Love lasagna? Hate the fuss? Meet Baked Ziti.
No stacking. No delicate noodle handling. Just boil, mix, dump, top with cheese, and bake. It’s cheesy, saucy, bubbly perfection. Feeds a crowd. Tastes even better the next day.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preheat and Boil
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
Boil ziti until al dente (1 minute less than box says). Drain.
Brown the Meat
In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain fat.
Stir in marinara sauce. Simmer 2 minutes.
Make the Cheesy Mix
In a bowl, mix ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Assemble
Add cooked pasta to the meat sauce. Stir to coat.
Layer half the pasta in the baking dish. Dollop all the ricotta mix on top.
Add remaining pasta. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella.
Bake and Rest
Bake 20 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
Let rest 5 minutes. Garnish with basil. Serve.
Summary
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 6-8 servings
Difficulty: Easy
Storage Notes
Fridge:
Stays good for 5 days. Gets better day 2.
Reheat:
Oven at 350°F for 15 minutes. Microwave for single servings (add a splash of water).
Freezer:
Assemble but don’t bake. Cover tightly. Freeze 3 months. Bake from frozen at 375°F for 45-50 minutes.
Pro Tip
- Make two. One for tonight. One for the freezer. Future you will high-five present you.
