Description
A hearty and comforting baked ziti featuring a rich meat sauce made with ground beef and Italian sausage, combined with creamy ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, perfectly seasoned and baked to golden bubbly perfection. This classic Italian-American casserole is ideal for family dinners or gatherings, delivering layers of robust flavors and tender pasta in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 1 small red pepper, diced
- 1 small green pepper, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 10 garlic cloves, minced
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 25 oz pasta sauce
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 3 tbsp basil
- 2 tsp sugar
- 3 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
Pasta Filling
- 16 oz ziti pasta, cooked al dente
- 16 oz ricotta cheese (whole milk preferred)
- 3 tbsp basil
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Vegetables: Preheat oven to 350°F. Dice red and green peppers, onion, and mince garlic cloves. Set each aside separately to ensure smooth cooking and prevent burning.
- Cook Pasta and Brown Meat: Boil salted water and cook ziti pasta to al dente following package instructions. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef and Italian sausage for 8-10 minutes, breaking the meat into small crumbles. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Sauté Vegetables and Simmer Sauce: Add diced peppers, onion, and minced garlic to the browned meat in skillet. Sauté over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until vegetables are soft. Stir in crushed tomatoes, pasta sauce, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, basil, sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Simmer on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes to blend flavors.
- Make Ricotta Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, basil, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently. Fold in 3-4 spoonfuls of meat sauce to add flavor and help binding.
- Combine Pasta and Ricotta Mixture: Add cooked ziti pasta to the ricotta mixture and fold gently until pasta is evenly coated without breaking it.
- Assemble the Casserole: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Layer half of the pasta-ricotta mixture, sprinkle with mozzarella, add remaining meat sauce evenly, then top with remaining pasta mixture. Finish by sprinkling the remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake and Brown Cheese: Bake covered for 30-45 minutes at 350°F until edges bubble and heated through. Remove foil and broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes to set the filling before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use whole milk ricotta for a creamier texture and better flavor.
- Do not rinse the pasta after draining; the starch helps bind the casserole.
- Adjust salt and seasoning to taste during sauce preparation.
- Broiling at the end creates a beautifully browned cheese topping.
- Letting the dish rest before serving helps it hold its shape when plated.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Baked Ziti, Ground Beef, Italian Sausage, Comfort Food, Pasta Casserole, Mozzarella, Ricotta, Meat Sauce
