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Ultimate Creamy Baked Ziti with Ricotta

A generous slice of baked ziti showing layers of pasta, ricotta cheese, and meat sauce topped with melted mozzarella.
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This is the ultimate comfort food: a creamy, cheesy baked ziti casserole featuring a rich meat sauce and a layer of whipped ricotta. It is a family favorite that is easy to prepare for weeknight dinners or feeding a crowd.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ziti pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (15 ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  3. While the pasta cooks, prepare the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
  4. 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.
  5. Stir in the marinara sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes to let the flavors combine. Remove from heat.
  6. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley. Mix until fully combined. This creates your creamy layer.
  7. In a large bowl, combine the cooked ziti pasta with about two-thirds of the meat sauce. Stir gently to coat the pasta evenly.
  8. Spread half of the sauced pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Dollop the entire ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta layer.
  9. Top the ricotta layer with the remaining sauced pasta mixture. Pour the remaining meat sauce over the top layer of pasta.
  10. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Sprinkle a little extra Parmesan cheese on top of the mozzarella.
  11. 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.

Notes

  • For a Million Dollar Baked Ziti variation, add 4 ounces of softened cream cheese to the ricotta mixture for extra richness.
  • You can prepare this entire casserole, cover it, and refrigerate it up to 24 hours before baking. Add about 10 to 15 minutes to the covered baking time if baking directly from the refrigerator.
  • If you prefer a meatless version, skip the ground meat and add 1 cup of sautéed mushrooms and 1 cup of chopped spinach to the sauce.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://carlacooking.com/ultimate-creamy-baked-ziti-with-ricotta/