Baked Ziti Recipe - How to make the BEST Baked Ziti

ricotta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese is lower in fat and provides a similar texture.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork can be less expensive.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Part-skim mozzarella reduces calories while provolone can be more affordable.

Parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated Pecorino Romano

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free and adds a cheesy flavor.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Add water to a pot, then add 1 teaspoon of salt and bring to a boil.

Add the ziti pasta to the boiling water and cook for 9 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Turn off the heat and drain the pasta.

In a large frying pan, add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and heat over medium heat.

Add 1 pound of ground beef to the pan, seasoning with 1.5 teaspoons of salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and 2 teaspoons of garlic powder; allow the meat to brown.

Add 3 cloves of minced garlic to the browned meat and continue cooking.

Pour in the 2 jars of marinara sauce, cover, and let it simmer for 5 minutes.

After 5 minutes, add 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of dried basil, and 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes; mix well and cover for an additional 5 minutes.

Reserve a little bit of sauce to place on the bottom of the baking dish.

Mix the remaining sauce with the drained noodles.

Layer the bottom of the baking dish with reserved sauce, then add a layer of noodles.

Cover the noodles with a layer of 16 ounces of mozzarella cheese, then dollop with 1 cup of ricotta cheese.

Add 3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese on top of the ricotta.

Add another layer of noodles, then top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens