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–+ servings

Easy Baked Ziti | Cheesy Pasta Bake

This easy baked ziti is rich, cheesy, and perfect for family dinners, meal prep, or freezing. A cozy baked pasta you'll want on repeat.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American, Asian
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ziti or rigatoni
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 large onion diced
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil plus additional for garnish

FOR THE RICOTTA MIXTURE

  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
  • 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella plus extra for topping
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper

FOR THE TOPPING

  • 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion until translucent. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
  • Add ground beef. Cook until browned. Stir in tomato paste.
  • Add crushed tomatoes, bay leaves, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and basil. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.
  • Boil pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
  • In a bowl, mix ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper.
  • Remove bay leaves from sauce. Combine pasta and ricotta mixture into sauce. Stir well. Add pasta water if needed.
  • Pour into baking dish. Top with mozzarella and parmesan.
  • Bake at 400°F, covered, for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 more minutes.
  • Garnish with fresh basil and additional parmesan. Serve immediately.

Notes

RECIPE NOTES:

How to Store

Let it cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

How to Freeze

Store tightly in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat at 350°F until hot (internal temp should hit 165°F).

Meal Prep Tip

You can assemble the whole thing without baking and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze it right away.
If you prefer your pasta freshly cooked, you can prepare the sauce and ricotta mixture on its own and freeze. Once ready to consume, all you have to do is boil the pasta and mix together with the reheated sauce, then bake it up in the oven to cut down drastically on time.

 

Keyword baked pasta with beef, baked ziti recipe, cheesy baked ziti, cozy pasta recipes, easy baked ziti, easy family dinners, freezer meal pasta
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