Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Cook the ziti according to package directions until it is al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the meat sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Stir in the marinara sauce, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes to allow flavors to combine.
- In a medium bowl, prepare the cheese filling. Mix together the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, Parmesan cheese, and parsley until well combined.
- Combine the cooked pasta with the meat sauce in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly so the pasta is evenly coated.
- Spread half of the pasta and sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish. Drop spoonfuls of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the pasta layer. Top this with the remaining pasta and sauce mixture.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top layer.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned. Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before you cut and serve it.
Nutrition
Notes
For a richer flavor, you can substitute half of the marinara sauce with crushed tomatoes and a pinch of red pepper flakes. If you prefer a less dense casserole, use 10 ounces of ricotta instead of 15.