Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
This baked ziti recipe with beef is an Italian favorite, filled with homemade red sauce, ground beef, and three cheeses and fresh basil. It’s such a yummy, cozy, perfect dish to serve for a holiday or a regular weeknight at home.
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 387kcal
Ingredients
- 16 ounces ziti pasta cooked al dente
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup yellow onion diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 28-ounce cans spaghetti sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 6-8 slices Provolone cheese
- 1½ cups sour cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cook ziti pasta to al dente, according to package, then set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat, then add the onion and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes, or until the onion begins to soften.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet, browning over medium heat for about 5-8 minutes. Once the meat is almost completely cooked, add spaghetti sauce and simmer for about 5 minutes, then remove from the heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- In a lightly greased 9" x 13" baking dish, add about half of the cooked pasta. Top with half of the mozzarella cheese and the provolone slices. Spread the sour cream evenly on top of the cheeses.
- Pour half of the meat and spaghetti sauce over the sour cream, then add the remaining pasta, the remaining sauce and the remaining mozzarella cheese. Finish by sprinkling the Parmesan cheese and fresh basil evenly over the top.
- Bake in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the spaghetti sauce is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Storing leftovers: store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheating: pull your casserole dish from the fridge to room temperature while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover the pasta bake with aluminum foil and reheat for about 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.
Make-ahead tips: you can make the entire recipe up until baking. Instead, cover with foil and store in the fridge overnight or in the freezer for up to 2 months. To thaw, transfer to the fridge overnight and then bake the next day.
Nutrition
Calories: 387kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 677mg | Potassium: 202mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 624IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 441mg | Iron: 2mg