Baked Ziti Recipe
Baked Ziti pasta tossed with fresh ricotta, mozzarella, romano cheese and red sauce topped with a homemade meatball.
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Ingredients
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Pasta
Meatballs
Cheese Mixture
Sauce
Method
Preparation
- 1
Cook the Pasta
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- 2
Make the Meatballs
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix until just combined. Form into meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter, and place on a baking sheet.
- 3
Bake the Meatballs
Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until cooked through and browned.
Assembly
- 4
Combine Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti pasta, marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, and half of the Romano cheese. Stir until well mixed.
- 5
Add Meatballs
Add the baked meatballs to the ziti mixture and gently fold them in.
- 6
Transfer to Baking Dish
Transfer the mixture to a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread evenly.
Topping
- 7
Add Remaining Cheese
Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Romano cheese over the top of the pasta and meatball mixture.
- 8
Bake
Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- 9
Cool and Serve
Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm.