Undercook the pasta slightly so it doesn’t get mushy during baking. Use a good quality pasta sauce or homemade if you have time. Let the ziti rest for 10 minutes after baking so it sets and serves more neatly.
Ingredients
1 pound ziti pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook the pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Add garlic and ground meat, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned, then drain excess fat. Stir in marinara sauce and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 5 minutes.
In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese with the egg and half the Parmesan.
In a 9×13 baking dish, spread a layer of meat sauce, then add half the cooked pasta. Spoon dollops of the ricotta mixture over the pasta, sprinkle with mozzarella, and repeat layers, ending with sauce and the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden. Let rest before serving.
You can swap the ground meat for turkey, leave it out for a vegetarian version, or add sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for extra veggies. Try mixing in a bit of red pepper flakes for a touch of heat or layering with béchamel sauce for a richer dish.