The Best Baked Ziti Recipes

BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and saute until starting to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and sausage and cook until browned. Drain off almost all of the fat, leaving a bit behind for flavor and moisture. Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and some salt and pepper. Stir, bring to a simmer and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of the cooked sauce to a bowl to cool down.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add some salt. Cook the ziti until not quite al dente.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a bowl, mix 2 cups of the grated mozzarella, the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, eggs and some salt and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times (do not mix completely).
• Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Pour it into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine (there should still be large lumps). Add the cooled reserved meat sauce and toss to combine.
• Add half the coated pasta to a large casserole dish or lasagna dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half the remaining mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of the coated pasta and the remaining sauce and mozzarella.
• Bake until bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before sprinkling with chopped parsley to serve.

BEST BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Cook ziti according to package directions; drain.
• In large bowl, combine ziti, 1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, parsley, egg, oregano, garlic powder and pepper.
• In a 9" x 13" pan (sprayed with cooking spray- for easy clean-up) pour 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce; spread ziti mixture evenly over sauce.
• Top with remaining 1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce and spread evenly; sprinkle with parmesan cheese (I add additional mozzarella to the top as well).
• Bake covered at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

THE BEST BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Cut down the length of each sausage with a sharp knife. Remove and discard casings.
• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan set over high heat. Add sausages and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up with a spatula, until the sausage begins to brown, and the onion turns translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add oregano, thyme, and rosemary and cook for 1 minute more. Pour in marinara sauce. Pour 1 cup water into each jar to rinse out remaining sauce; add to the saucepan. Stir together and bring sauce to a simmer.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low, and let simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed. Turn off heat and reserve until needed. Before using, skim any excess fat that rises to the surface.
• While sauce simmers, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 or 2 minutes less than the directions on the package call for, about 8 minutes. Drain well and transfer into a large mixing bowl.
• Carefully add the meat sauce and stir until thoroughly combined. Let rest for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a large 9x15-inch or 9x13-inch casserole dish with a drizzle of olive oil.
• Use a slotted spoon to transfer half of the pasta and sauce mixture to the prepared dish, then use a spatula to even out into a uniform layer. Top with 1/2 of the ricotta cheese, 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, and then 1/2 of the grated Pecorino Romano cheese, being sure to distribute evenly. Top with the rest of the pasta and sauce mixture and give the pan a little shake to settle the sauce. Repeat the cheese application.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and the casserole is piping hot, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Top with parsley.

BEST ZITI EVER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside. In a large saucepan, heat marinara with 1 teaspoon basil until bubbling. In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
• Spread bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with sauce. Layer 1/2 of the ziti, 1/2, the sausage, 1/2 of the ricotta, and 1/2 the mozzarella. Spoon half of the sauce over top. Repeat layers. Sprinkle top with remaining 1/2 teaspoons basil and Italian seasoning.
• Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes.

BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cook ziti and set aside
• On medium heat cook beef, onion, and garlic until beef is browned
• Stir in sauces and oregano, and keep on heat until mixture starts to boil
• Combine 1 cup of beef/sauce mixture with cooked ziti
• Spoon in ½ of ziti mixture into a large baking dish
• Top with ricotta and 1 cup of mozzarella and 1 cup of sauce
• Spoon in the rest of the ziti mixture and top with the rest of the sauce
• Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes
• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and remaining mozzarella
• Bake uncovered for 10 minutes

BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. The next two steps can be done at the same time (cooking the pasta in one pot and the sausage in another).
• Bring a large pot of salted water to boiling. Add about 1 tablespoon of salt and the pasta. Cook pasta about 5 minutes or to al dente (it will continue to cook in the oven). Drain in a colander.
• In a large skillet, brown sausage. Drain and cool.
• While pasta and sausage are cooking, in a large bowl, add 1 cup of the marinara sauce, the cottage cheese, 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese, 1 cup Parmesan cheese (save 1/4 cup for the top), eggs, and basil. Add the sausage when it is done cooking.
• In the same pot as the pasta or sausage (whichever pan is done being used first), add the heavy cream, cornstarch, garlic powder, and Italian seasonings and whisk together. Cook over medium heat until thickened about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir into cottage cheese and meat sauce mixture.
• Add the pasta to the cottage cheese mixture and mix well. Pour into a 9x13 baking dish. Spread remaining marinara sauce on top. Top with remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
• Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with more basil and serve.

THE BEST BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
• Fill a large pot with water, add a teaspoon of salt and bring to a boil. Cook pasta as the package directs until al dente, then drain.
• Heat the olive oil in large pan over medium heat. Saute onion in oil until tender. Add the rosemary and garlic. Cook 2-3 minutes more then remove from pan and hold in a small bowl.
• Cook ground beef and sausage in the pan until done.
• Return the onion mixture and the spaghetti sauce to the pan. Add salt to taste. Simmer on low for 10 minutes.
• In greased baking dish, spoon 1/2 of the cooked pasta, provolone cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, 1/2 of the meat sauce. Then repeat layering the rest of the ingredients in the same order: pasta, mozzarella cheese, and remaining meat sauce. Top with parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until sauce is bubbling and cheese is melted.

BEST BAKED ZITI EVER

Steps:

• Pour olive oil into a large, deep skillet, over medium-high heat. Add in ground beef and brown, 5 minutes. Add in diced onions, and mushrooms (optional). Saute for 5 to 7 minutes until onions are soft and translucent, and ground beef is cooked through.
• Add in garlic and tomato paste and toast for 2 minutes. Pour in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Stir in basil, oregano, salt, and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until pasta is ready.
• Cook pasta in boiling water, according to package directions. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Prepare the cheese topping in a small mixing bowl by combining cream cheese, ricotta, and parmesan. Mix together until smooth.
• Once the pasta is done, add it into the meat sauce and stir to combine. Pour it into a lightly greased 9x13 pan. Spread cheese mixture on top of the pasta.
• Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve hot.