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Baked Ziti Without Sauce

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Baked ziti is a comforting Italian-American pasta casserole made with ziti noodles, tomato sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, baked until bubbly and golden.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) ziti pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 jar (24 oz / 680g) marinara sauce
  • 1 can (15 oz / 425g) tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 15 oz (425g) ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups (200g) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Cook ziti pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, about 1–2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil and cook ground beef (or sausage) until browned. Add onion and cook until softened, then stir in garlic for 1 minute.
  4. Pour in marinara sauce and tomato sauce, then season with basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
  5. In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, and half of the Parmesan. Stir in parsley if using.
  6. Add half of the cooked pasta to the sauce mixture and toss to coat. Spread half of this mixture into the baking dish.
  7. Dollop ricotta mixture evenly over pasta, then top with remaining pasta and sauce mixture.
  8. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
  9. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  10. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or keep it vegetarian by omitting meat.
  • For extra flavor, use a mix of mozzarella and provolone cheese on top.
  • This dish can be assembled ahead of time and baked later.
  • Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 4 days or can be frozen.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked ziti, pasta bake, Italian-American casserole, cheesy baked pasta, ziti recipe

Find it online: https://recipesfoodeasy.com/baked-ziti-without-sauce/