Easy Baked Ziti Recipe

This easy baked ziti recipe makes a perfect filling, family friendly dinner. Meats, cheeses, and pasta combine with seasoned sauce in a casserole dish to be baked into casserole perfection. Pair it with a side salad or green veggie for dinner the whole family will love!

Life gets super busy when you have multiple kids in different sports or afterschool activities. 

Like there are some evenings when it feels like we only come home to sleep. Many nights like that mean scarfing down quick dinners on the go.

On the few nights when we don’t have anything scheduled, that’s when I want an indulgent dinner that we can all sit around the table together and enjoy.

I still want it to be relatively easy though. Wouldn’t want to spend my only evening at home stuck in the kitchen all night.

Luckily for me, this easy baked ziti recipe is the perfect option.

It’s easy, it’s super filling, and even my pickiest eaters gobble it up.

Ingredients Needed

• Pasta – You’ll need one full pound of ziti shaped pasta for this recipe. Brand shouldn’t matter, but if it’s important to you, use one you love.
• Meat – A blend of both lean ground beef and ground Italian sausage.
• Onion – Use a sweet yellow onion for the best flavor.
• Seasonings – Garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and dried oregano give the sauce flavor.
• Sauce – Two 24 ounce jars of your favorite pasta sauce- you can use chunky or smooth, just know that chunkier will yield a less saucy ziti.
• Cheese – Both shredded mozzarella and ricotta cheese.
• Egg – The egg is optional, but recommended.

How To Make

Making this baked ziti casserole is surprisingly simple.

Start by cooking the pasta according to the packages instructions, but only until ‘al dente’. Be careful not to overcook since the noodles are going to bake again in the oven and nobody likes overcooked, soggy pasta.

While the noodles are cooking, you’ll want to get working on the rest of the recipe.

Add the meats and onion to a skillet set over medium heat and cook.

Using a sturdy wooden spoon, or a meat chopper, break up the pasta as it cooks so it’s crumbled. Cook until no pink remains.

Be sure to strain off as much grease as possible so it doesn’t get in your sauce mixture.

Once the pasta’s cooked, drain it completely, and then return it to the pot. 

Add the beef mixture and measured seasonings to the pot with the noodles, and stir to evenly combine.

Spray a 9×13″ inch baking dish with non stick cooking spray. This step is optional, but I recommend it because it makes clean up so much easier.

Add half of the noodle mixture to the prepare dish, and spread it out in an even layer.

Stir together the ricotta with the beaten up, then add half of the ricotta to the casserole dish. Spread it out in an even layer over the noodles.

This step is a bit messy, and it’s ok if it’s not a perfect layer of cheese.

Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella evenly out over top.

Repeat this layering one more time, finishing with the rest of the shredded cheese.

Bake the ziti casserole at 350F for 25-30 minutes, or until hot & bubbly and the cheese is melted on top.

Let the dish rest for 5-10 minutes before serving so that the cheese has some time to set up.

How Do You Store Cooked Baked Ziti

Whether you have leftovers or are trying to make this easy baked ziti recipe ahead of time, it’s easy to store and reheat.

Allow the baked pasta to cool completely, then cover tightly with foil and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

For longer storage, prepare as instructed in a freezer safe baking dish but do not bake. 

Allow it to cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. This will help to best prevent freezer burn.

It can then be frozen for up to 3 months.

When ready to eat, thaw, then remove the plastic wrap and foil, and bake as instructed.

Why Should I Add Egg To Ricotta Cheese For Ziti?

You don’t have to mix a beaten egg into your ricotta cheese, but for baked ziti I highly recommend it. 

Adding egg to ricotta cheese helps bind the cheese together so that it melts perfectly, but isn’t runny when serving.

This will help prevent the cheese from oozing out when scooping.

TIPS & TRICKS

• For easier clean up, spray the dish with non stick spray before assembling the baked ziti.
• Add a beaten egg to the ricotta cheese to help keep it creamy and melted, but stable for serving.
• To prevent soggy noodles, only cook the pasta until the recommended ‘al dente’ time. If this is still to firm for you, don’t worry because the noodles will cook more and continue to soften during baking.
• Only have on of the meats? That’s ok, you can use all ground beef or all sausage- just make sure to strain off all the grease after cooking.

Other Easy Baked Pasta Recipes

This easy baked ziti recipe makes a perfect family meal.

It’s simple to prepare, but loaded with flavor making it a go to in our rotation- that’s even picky eater approved!

Looking for other easy baked pasta recipes?

Try these:

• Baked Pasta E Fagioli
• Shrimp Scampi Casserole
• Dump & Bake Pizza Casserole

If you’ve tried this EASY BAKED ZITI RECIPE, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!