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All Posts / Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce

Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce

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By Rosie Published: August 19, 2014 Updated: August 13, 2023
This post may contain affiliate links.

Cheesy baked ziti made easy. Perfect for recipe during the busy week!

This ziti with meat sauce recipe will quickly become a family favorite!
Table of Contents
  1. Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce

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.

This ziti with meat sauce recipe makes a quick weeknight meal.

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

This classic recipe for Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce is packed with flavor, is quick and requires minimal ingredients. Perfect for a busy weeknight family dinner!
Watch Video Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

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!

Video

If you loved this recipe, leave me a review below. This helps future recipe makers and ensures continued high-quality recipes for years to come!
© 2025 I Heart Recipes
Recipe by: I Heart Recipes
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EXPLORE RECIPE CATEGORIESAll Posts, casserole, Dinner

MEET THE RECIPE AUTHOR

Rosie

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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Comments

  1. Ashley says

    March 2, 2015 at 10:08 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 2, 2015 at 10:37 am

      Never mind that question! You clearly meant what you said, as I just measured it all out. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Rosie says

        March 2, 2015 at 8:03 pm

        LOL! Okay hun!

        Reply
  2. Mia says

    March 3, 2015 at 9:17 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      March 6, 2015 at 11:22 am

      You can make more sauce.

      Reply
  3. sharon says

    April 13, 2016 at 11:35 am

    Hello, ms rosie.. I will love to make this recipe, but I am not able to see the printout word form of the recipe….

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      April 13, 2016 at 11:42 am

      I fixed this one. Which was the other recipe? My blog crashed a while ago, and some of the recipes got deleted 🙁

      Reply
      • sharon says

        April 13, 2016 at 12:15 pm

        Okay! Im just now seeing your comment.. im not sure give me a second while i look it up. and thank you 🙂

        Reply
        • sharon says

          April 13, 2016 at 12:21 pm

          GOT IT ROSIE!! its the “FOUR CHEESE GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE”.. i dont see the printout for this one either!!!

          Reply
          • Rosie says

            April 13, 2016 at 12:35 pm

            Thanks! I’ll look into the other post. XOXO

  4. sharon says

    April 13, 2016 at 11:40 am

    i notice this with another recipe as well :-(..

    Reply
  5. sharon says

    April 13, 2016 at 11:46 am

    ****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)…

    Reply
  6. gloria kourounis says

    April 22, 2016 at 5:35 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      April 22, 2016 at 4:31 pm

      Hi Gloria! Yes I love adding ricotta ( well actually cottage cheese) to my baked Ziti! It’s delicious.

      Reply
  7. latrice says

    June 28, 2016 at 1:25 pm

    5 stars
    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

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      June 28, 2016 at 1:46 pm

      Hi Latrice! You can use between 4-6 cups

      Reply
  8. Patrice says

    March 7, 2017 at 9:26 am

    5 stars
    Could you use ground turkey instead of beef?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      March 7, 2017 at 1:49 pm

      Hi Patrice. Absolutely!

      Reply
  9. Kia says

    April 3, 2017 at 11:14 am

    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

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      April 3, 2017 at 12:19 pm

      Hi Kia! I’m glad that you liked the recipe!

      Reply
  10. Taneisha says

    October 29, 2017 at 10:51 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      October 29, 2017 at 12:16 pm

      Hi Taneisha! If you want ” hearty” portions, and leftovers, definitely double the recipe 🙂

      Reply
  11. Kay Pee says

    December 30, 2017 at 3:06 am

    5 stars
    Can I use ground Italian sausage instead of beef?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      December 30, 2017 at 8:42 am

      Sure! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Daphne Nimmons says

    February 16, 2018 at 6:03 am

    5 stars
    My family loves this recipe…..thanks

    Reply
  13. Karen says

    May 27, 2018 at 1:10 pm

    I am making this recipe again today. It is one of our favorites. Thank you Rosie.

    Reply
  14. Alicia Ortuno says

    June 19, 2018 at 7:43 pm

    5 stars
    I made it tonight was delicious.thanks

    Reply
  15. Libby says

    September 2, 2018 at 12:43 pm

    5 stars
    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?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      September 2, 2018 at 4:24 pm

      The written recipe is correct.

      Reply
  16. Morgan says

    September 23, 2018 at 12:36 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  17. LaShara says

    November 15, 2020 at 6:14 pm

    5 stars
    My family loves this recipe. Thank you so much! Perfect!

    Reply
  18. Kathleen says

    January 29, 2023 at 8:24 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 4, 2023 at 7:43 am

      Thanks so much for giving my recipe a try!

      Reply
  19. TAMMY says

    June 8, 2023 at 6:14 pm

    5 stars
    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!!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      June 9, 2023 at 6:00 am

      Hi Cousin Tammy! Thank you so much for trying my recipe! XOXO

      Reply
  20. Lori says

    January 6, 2025 at 4:10 pm

    5 stars
    Outstanding!!! Thank you Rosie! I’ve made this several times! Soooo Good!

    Reply

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Hey cousins, it’s Rosie!

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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