Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Ricotta Recipe Schema

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Enjoy the comforting flavors of this classic Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Ricotta! Layers of perfectly cooked pasta, savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella cheese come together in a family-favorite dish that’s easy to make and utterly satisfying.

Ingredients

For the Pasta:

• 1 pound ziti pasta

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried basil (optional)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Cheese Layers:

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Optional Garnish:

• Fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1️⃣ Preheat the Oven:

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

2️⃣ Cook the Pasta:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Cook ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

3️⃣ Prepare the Meat Sauce:

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Sauté the chopped onion until softened (3–4 minutes).
3. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
5. Mix in marinara sauce, basil, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes.

4️⃣ Prepare the Ricotta Mixture:

• In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese with half of the grated Parmesan. Set aside.

5️⃣ Assemble the Ziti:

1. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom.
3. Layer half of the cooked ziti evenly over the sauce.
4. Add dollops of the ricotta mixture over the pasta.
5. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the ricotta.
6. Pour half of the remaining meat sauce over the mozzarella layer.
7. Repeat with the remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, mozzarella, and sauce.
8. Top with the remaining Parmesan cheese.

6️⃣ Bake the Ziti:

1. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
2. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

7️⃣ Serve:

1. Let the baked ziti cool for 5 minutes after removing it from the oven.
2. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve warm.