Easy Baked Ziti

This Easy Baked Ziti is made with simple ingredients, full of flavor, and ready in less than an hour. Loaded with an easy meat sauce, tender pasta, and three types of cheese, this comfort dish is sure to be a dinnertime crowd-pleaser!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword pasta recipe, ziti recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1

Servings -8 servings

Calories 562

Author Gayle

Ingredients

12 ounces dry ziti or other small pasta
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (24 ounce) spaghetti sauce
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 eggs beaten
1 carton (16 ounce) ricotta cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a medium pot, cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
While pasta is cooking, brown and crumble ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain and return to skillet (wipe skillet clean of grease, if needed).
Add spaghetti sauce, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Stir and simmer over low heat for 2-3 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine the eggs, ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses. Stir to combine. Add pasta to cheese mixture and toss to coat.
Spoon 1/3 of meat mixture onto bottom of prepared pan, followed by half of the pasta mixture. Repeat with another layer. Top with remaining meat sauce.
Cover dish with foil and bake for 35-40 minutes.
Uncover, sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and return to oven. Bake for 5-8 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
Serve immediately.

Notes

Inspired by Taste of Home magazine - Fall 2014

Nutrition