Baked Ziti Recipe

Preheat and prep

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with a little olive oil or nonstick spray.

Cook the pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil (about 1 tsp salt per 4 cups water). Add 1 lb ziti and cook for 1-2 minutes less than the package al dente time (typically 8-9 minutes) so the pasta will finish cooking in the oven. Drain and drizzle with 1 tsp olive oil to prevent sticking; set aside.

Make the cheese mixture

In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup ricotta, 1 large egg, 2 tbs chopped parsley, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, 1 tsp salt (meant for filling), and 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella. Mix until smooth and set aside. This mixture will be folded into the pasta.

Cook aromatics and meat

Heat 2 tbs olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 finely chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5-6 minutes. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add 1 lb ground beef (or sausage) and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Season with 1/2 tsp black pepper.

Build the sauce

Stir in 2 tbs tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Add 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1/2 cup water or broth, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, and 1/2 tsp sugar (if using). Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, and let simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes to thicken slightly. Taste and adjust salt (add up to 1 tsp more) and pepper as needed.

Combine pasta with sauce and cheese

In a large mixing bowl or in the pot used for pasta, combine the drained ziti with about two-thirds of the sauce (reserve roughly 1 cup for topping) and the ricotta-cheese mixture. Stir gently until pasta is evenly coated. Fold in the remaining 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella (from the 2 cups listed) and most of the Parmesan, leaving a handful for topping.

Layer in dish

Spoon half of the sauced ziti into the prepared 9x13 baking dish, spreading evenly. Add any remaining sauce if needed, then top with the remainder of the pasta mixture so it fills the dish evenly. Spread the reserved 1 cup sauce over the top. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella and the remaining Parmesan evenly over the top.

Bake

Cover the baking dish with foil (spray underside with oil or tent so cheese doesn't stick) and bake in the preheated 375°F oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and golden and sauce is bubbling around the edges. If you prefer a browned top, place under the broiler 1-2 minutes watching closely.

Rest and garnish

Remove from oven and let rest 5-10 minutes to set. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and additional chopped parsley if desired. Cut into portions and serve hot.