Easy Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Ricotta

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Finding a comforting pasta dish that pleases both kids and adults can feel like mission impossible during busy weeknights. Between after-school activities, work deadlines, and the general chaos of family life, there’s often little time or energy left to spend hours in the kitchen preparing dinner from scratch.

That’s where this baked ziti with ground beef and ricotta comes to the rescue. It’s a crowd-pleasing dish that’s easy to put together, perfect for make-ahead meals, and can be customized with whatever vegetables or cheese you happen to have in your fridge.

What Kind of Ground Beef Should I Use?

For baked ziti, you’ll want to choose ground beef with a fat content between 80/20 and 85/15 – this gives you enough fat to keep the meat juicy while cooking, but not so much that your dish becomes greasy. Regular ground beef from the supermarket works perfectly fine here, though grass-fed beef will add a bit more flavor if you want to splurge. If you’re looking to cut costs or calories, you can mix the beef with ground pork, or even substitute half with Italian sausage removed from its casing for extra flavor. Just make sure to drain off excess fat after browning the meat to keep your sauce from becoming too oily.

Options for Substitutions

This pasta bake is super adaptable and you can make several swaps based on what you have in your kitchen:

• Pasta: While ziti is traditional, you can use any tube-shaped pasta like penne, rigatoni, or even rotini. The key is choosing a pasta that can hold the sauce well.
• Ground meat: Ground beef can be swapped with ground turkey, pork, or Italian sausage (removed from casings). For a vegetarian version, try using crumbled firm tofu or mushrooms chopped finely in a food processor.
• Ricotta cheese: No ricotta? Try cottage cheese (drained and blended until smooth) or a mix of cream cheese and sour cream. You can also skip it entirely and just use more mozzarella.
• Mozzarella: Any good melting cheese works here – try provolone, fontina, or even a mix of cheddar and monterey jack.
• Tomato puree: You can use crushed tomatoes or marinara sauce instead. If using whole canned tomatoes, blend them first. For a quick fix, even pasta sauce from a jar will work fine.
• Fresh herbs: If you don’t have fresh herbs for garnish, just skip them or use a sprinkle of dried herbs before serving.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making baked ziti is overcooking the pasta before it goes into the oven – aim to cook it 2-3 minutes less than the package directions since it will continue cooking in the sauce while baking. Another common error is layering the ingredients while they’re piping hot, which can make the cheese separate and become greasy; let both the meat sauce and pasta cool for about 10 minutes before assembling. To prevent your ziti from drying out, make sure to add enough sauce (it should look slightly too wet before baking), and cover the dish with foil for the first 20 minutes of baking. For the best texture and flavor, remove the foil during the last 10-15 minutes of baking to achieve that golden, crispy top layer, and let the dish rest for 10-15 minutes before serving to help the sauce thicken and settle.

What to Serve With Baked Ziti?

This hearty pasta dish calls for some simple sides that won’t overshadow the main event. A fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette dressing helps cut through the richness of the cheese and meat – I like to toss together some crisp romaine, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber. Garlic bread is always welcome at the table, perfect for soaking up any extra sauce (and let’s be honest, there’s no such thing as too much garlic bread with pasta). If you want to add some vegetables, try serving some roasted broccoli or sautéed green beans on the side – they’re simple enough to let the ziti shine but still add some nice color and nutrients to your plate.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: This baked ziti is perfect for leftovers! Pop it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. The flavors actually get even better as they meld together over time, making it a great make-ahead meal for busy weeknights.

Freeze: You can freeze this pasta dish for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. I like to divide it into smaller portions before freezing – it makes it super easy to grab just what you need. Just make sure it’s completely cool before freezing to prevent ice crystals from forming.

Reheat: To warm up your ziti, cover it with foil and pop it in the oven at 350°F for about 20-25 minutes, or until heated through. If you’re in a hurry, the microwave works too – just add a splash of water and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between. The cheese might not be as gooey as when it’s fresh, but it’ll still be tasty!

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	30-45 minutes
Total Time	45-65 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1900-2100
• Protein: 100-110 g
• Fat: 80-90 g
• Carbohydrates: 180-200 g

Ingredients

• 300g ziti or penne pasta (10 oz)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion (brown, white, or yellow), finely diced
• 500g ground beef or pork (1 lb, or a mix of both)
• 700g tomato puree (24 oz)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon each dried basil, oregano, and sugar
• 1 cup ricotta cheese (optional)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella (or any melting cheese)
• 1 cup freshly grated parmesan (optional)
• Finely chopped parsley or basil (for garnish, optional)
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds (optional)
• 1 tablespoon paprika (sweet or plain)
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or 3/4 teaspoon red chili flakes (to taste)
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon each salt and black pepper

Step 1: Cook the Ziti

Start by cooking the ziti according to the recommended cooking time on the packet, but deduct 2 minutes from the total time for a firmer texture.

This ensures the pasta will finish cooking to perfection during baking.

Once done, drain the ziti and return it to the pot.

Step 2: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) to ensure it’s ready for baking once you finish preparing the dish.

Step 3: Make the Sauce

Heat a bit of oil in a large skillet over high heat.

Add in the chopped onion and garlic, cooking for about 2 minutes until the onion has become translucent.

Introduce the meat to the skillet, breaking it up as it cooks.

Once the meat is just cooked through, add your chosen seasonings and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Mix in the passata, some water, basil, oregano, and a touch of sugar.

Bring this mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it cook for approximately 10 minutes.

Adjust the salt and pepper to taste, keeping in mind that the flavor will spread throughout a large amount of pasta.

Step 4: Toss the Ziti with Sauce

Pour about 2 cups of the prepared sauce into the pot containing the ziti.

Toss the pasta in the sauce to ensure it’s evenly coated and ready for assembly.

Step 5: Assemble the Dish

Spread the sauced ziti into a baking dish measuring approximately 23×33 cm (9×13 inches).

Add dollops of ricotta cheese over the ziti.

Pour the remaining sauce evenly across the top, then finish by sprinkling on mozzarella cheese and parmesan.

Step 6: Bake the Ziti

Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes in your preheated oven.

After this, remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese on top is golden and bubbly.

Step 7: Serve

Once baked to perfection, optionally sprinkle with fresh parsley or basil for an added burst of freshness and color before serving.

Enjoy your hearty baked ziti!