Cheesy baked ziti made easy. Perfect for recipe during the busy week!
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When I was growing up, I think we had spaghetti at least once a week. I don’t know why, but I never got tired of it. Still until this day, I LOVE spaghetti. I’m huge on pasta dishes. I make pasta dishes a few times week, and my family never complains. Why? Because I always change it up! Once day we might have spaghetti, the next make be vegetable lasagna. Whatever the dish maybe, my guys love it.
In this post, I’m sharing a dish that no one can resist. I’m making Baked Ziti with a Meat Sauce!
This baked ziti dish nothing short of amazing ( and I’m not just saying that because I made it!). It’s packed with flavor, but does not require a lot of ingredients.
I make my own meat sauce for this ziti, but if you want to use a store bought sauce, I won’t hold it against you! 😀
The recipe is quite simple, and very easy to follow. Be sure to watch the video tutorial for visual instructions. Enjoy! XOXO
Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp sugar
- 3 cups cooked penne pasta
- 2 1/2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
- 1 tsp parsley flakes optional
Instructions
- Cook the pasta until it is al dente, then drain the pasta under cool water.
- Place the ground beef into a pan, and place the pan over medium heat.
- Season the ground beef with the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, then cook the meat until it browns.
- Once the meat browns, drain the fat, add in 1 tsp of minced garlic, then add in the tomatoes.
- Next, add in the tomato paste, then the water, and stir the ingredients.
- Sprinkle in the sugar, stir, then let the meat sauce cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Place the meat sauce in your bake dish, then and in the pasta.
- Fold the ingredients, then add in the 1 cup cheese. Fold the cheese in with the other ingredients.
- Top the ziti off with the remaining cheese, then sprinkle the parsley flakes on top.
- Bake the ziti uncovered on 350 F, for 40 to 45 minutes.
- Let the ziti sit for 5 to 10 minutes before digging in.
- Enjoy!
Hi Rosie, the recipe looks great! I am making it for dinner. Only one teaspoon for each of the seasonings? Not a table spoon? I just want to make sure! Seems a bit small for all of the cheese and beef in the recipe! Thanks!
Never mind that question! You clearly meant what you said, as I just measured it all out. Thanks!
LOL! Okay hun!
hello ive made this recipe twice and its pretty good but a little dry for my taste im just wondering if you have any tips on how to make it so its not so dry? Can I add more tomato paste and water?? thanks!
You can make more sauce.
Hello, ms rosie.. I will love to make this recipe, but I am not able to see the printout word form of the recipe….
I fixed this one. Which was the other recipe? My blog crashed a while ago, and some of the recipes got deleted 🙁
Okay! Im just now seeing your comment.. im not sure give me a second while i look it up. and thank you 🙂
GOT IT ROSIE!! its the “FOUR CHEESE GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE”.. i dont see the printout for this one either!!!
Thanks! I’ll look into the other post. XOXO
i notice this with another recipe as well :-(..
****UPDATE*****…
NeverMIND MS ROSIE!!…. I guess I was having some kind of internet connection issue, and NOW IT OPEN FOR ME…
SOOOOO MY APOLOGIES ABOUT THAT!!! 🙂
And Girl I love your COOKING 🙂 KEEP THE RECIPES COMING!!!!!
MY kind of food (yummy)…
Dear Rosie…I’m a latina girl who grew up in an Italian neighborhood and I love all things Italian. Now you sure don’t look Italian but your baked ziti is just like the kind I grew up on. Wish I had taken cooking lessons from Angelina. Anyway, did you ever make the baked ziti with ricotta cheese? That’s how I make it but this weekend I’m making yours with the ricotta cheese and I know it’s gonna me awesome!
Hi Gloria! Yes I love adding ricotta ( well actually cottage cheese) to my baked Ziti! It’s delicious.
hi i made your meat sauce which i absolute love but instead of making the meat sauce listed above how much of the already made meat sauce would you say to use
Hi Latrice! You can use between 4-6 cups
Could you use ground turkey instead of beef?
Hi Patrice. Absolutely!
Rosie this is so good!! I made it yesterday and of course there are NO leftovers!! I’m making this for my daughters birthday party next week and I am definitely having this on the food list!! I will have to Triple the recipe But it’s so good
Hi Kia! I’m glad that you liked the recipe!
Hello Rosie,
Hope all is well. Just wanted to know how many servings is this recipe? Want to make for my family of 6. (2 adults and 4 children) and I want to be sure we have leftovers so I just need to figure whether I will double, triple, or quadruple the recipe LOL
THANKS!
Hi Taneisha! If you want ” hearty” portions, and leftovers, definitely double the recipe 🙂
Can I use ground Italian sausage instead of beef?
Sure! 🙂
My family loves this recipe…..thanks
I am making this recipe again today. It is one of our favorites. Thank you Rosie.
I made it tonight was delicious.thanks
Ho Rosie,
Love this recipe, but confused about baking time. Video saids 30-35 mins but the recipe said 40-45 mins. Which is correct?
The written recipe is correct.
Fantastic recipe! I cut the meat and pasta in half to make enough for one person. They ate the whole thing! I’m definately using more of your recipes!
My family loves this recipe. Thank you so much! Perfect!
Hello Rosie. I just made this dish tonight. It was delicious! I didn’t have tomato paste so I used a 15oz can of tomato sauce and used a 15oz can of diced tomatoes. Then to “rinse” out each can to get its juices, did 1/2 a can of water for each which made a little over 1 cup of water. I used mozzarella string cheese cut into small slices for in the middle of the pasta & pasta mix, and then shredded Colby/Jack on top. My partner and I loved this dish! It definitely will be placed on my meal rotation. Thank you!
Thanks so much for giving my recipe a try!
Cuzin!!!! You out did yourself with this one….OMG!!! I made this tonight for dinner. It was DELICIOUS!!! Everyone loved it! I used ground chicken and italian sausage & I used mozzarella and provolone cheese. Everything was seasoned to perfection – this recipe is PERFECT just as is – I didn’t have to tweak it at all! This is definitely added to my rotation. Thank You!!
Hi Cousin Tammy! Thank you so much for trying my recipe! XOXO