Cheesy Baked Ziti

This classic baked pasta dish is everything you want in a weeknight comfort meal—hearty, saucy, and layered with creamy ricotta and melty mozzarella. Whether you use ziti or penne, beef or sausage, this bake delivers cozy satisfaction in every bite.

Ingredients

Ingredient	Amount
Ziti or penne pasta	1 lb
Ground beef or Italian sausage	1 lb
Medium onion (diced)	1
Garlic cloves (minced)	3
Marinara sauce	1 jar (24 oz)
Tomato sauce	1 can (15 oz)
Italian seasoning	2 tsp
Salt & black pepper	To taste
Ricotta cheese	1 cup
Shredded mozzarella cheese	2 cups
Grated Parmesan cheese	½ cup
Olive oil	2 tbsp

Instructions

1. Preheat & prep
   Heat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or foil pan.
2. Boil the pasta
   Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. Sauté the aromatics
   In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Add diced onion and cook until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
4. Brown the meat
   Add ground beef or sausage to the skillet. Cook until browned, then drain excess fat.
5. Make the sauce
   Stir in marinara, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes to let flavors meld.
6. Mix it all together
   In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta with the meat sauce. Stir in ricotta and half the mozzarella.
7. Layer & top
   Pour the mixture into your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
8. Bake
   Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly with golden spots.
9. Rest & serve
   Let sit for 5–10 minutes before slicing—this helps the layers set and gives you those perfect cheesy pulls.

Serving Suggestions

• Pair with garlic bread and a crisp green salad.
• Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
• Freeze leftovers in individual portions for easy weeknight meals.