The Best Baked Ziti Recipe - Baker by Nature (2024)

This top-rated baked ziti recipe features al dente pasta with meat sauce, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese. Heaven in a baking dish and perfect for serving a crowd! Delicious with a salad and garlic bread.

What is Baked Ziti?

Looking for a crowd-pleasing recipe that’s hearty, flavorful, and makes you look like a superstar chef? Baked ziti to the rescue! Aka al dente noodles layered with ricotta cheese, meat sauce, and a trio of Italian cheeses. Likelasagna… without all the fussy assembly and layering!

The perfect recipe for family gatherings or any night you’re craving Italian-inspired comfort food. You can easily feed 8 people with one pan of baked ziti. Leftovers? It pairs great with anItalian chopped saladand some warmgarlic knotsor garlic bread!

How to Make Baked Ziti… BETTER?

We’ve been passing this recipe around my family for years… it’s a tried-and true-staple!And plenty of 5-star reviews promise you’ll love it, too! Because at the end of the day, what YOU think matters most. Here’s what makes this better than the rest:

• Al dente pasta… because soggy ziti noodles is a sin.
• My flavorful ricotta cheese mixture: this secret blend is smooth and so delish!
• Goodbye boring tomato sauce, hello hearty meat sauce! The tomato sauce is extra flavorsome thanks to ground beef and Italian sausage.
• Make this baked ziti recipe in advance and store in the fridge or freezer! Or make the tomato sauce and ricotta cheese mixture the day beforehand and store in the fridge.

Al Dente Noodles

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for exactly 4 minutes and not a second longer – set a timer to keep track of time.
2. Drain pasta and run it under cold water to stop it from cooking.Then use as directed!

Your ziti noodles will still be hard when drained. Extra al dente noodles are best so they absorb the liquid from the tomato sauce.

Ground Beef + Italian Sausage Meat Sauce

• This sauce is a little extra effort, but you can make it in advance. Store in the fridge for 3 days or freeze for 2 months!
• Ground beef and Italian sausage make extra hearty meat sauce! Sweet Italian sausage or spicy Italian sausage work.
• Tomato sauce and tomato paste ensure the meat sauce is thick and has plenty of rich tomato flavor!
• Fresh basil and fresh parsley wake add a pop of freshness to the pasta sauce.

Ricotta Cheese Mixture

• Like most baked ziti recipes, this one features ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
• I also use Fontina cheese, which tastes delicious and melts beautifully. If you can’t find it, use an equal amount of low-moisture mozzarella!
• The ricotta cheese mixture includes egg, egg yolk, basil, parsley, parmesan cheese, fontina cheese, salt, and pepper.

How Do You Make Baked Ziti?

1. Pour a cup of meat sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Add half the ricotta cheese mixture, dropping it in dots over the bottom of the baking dish.
2. Pour pasta on top, then top with remaining tomato sauce. Dot the remaining ricotta cheese, then sprinkle with shredded cheese mixture and the cheese cubes.
3. Place baking dish in the oven and bake until cheese mixture is bubbling and golden brown.

How long to Bake Baked Ziti with Ricotta?

1. Bake until the cheese is golden and bubbling. Time varies depending on your oven and baking dish.
2. Glass dishes conduct heat faster than ceramic dishes. If you use a thick ceramic baking dish, you’ll likely add 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Don’t bake covered, covering it with aluminum foil makes it impossible for the cheese to brown. It’ll also traps steam, which can cause soggy noodles! So be sure to bake uncovered.

Make Baked Ziti Ahead of Time

1. Assemble as directed, then the wrap the baking dish tightly in plastic wrap. Store in the fridge for up to 48 hours.
2. Time to bake? Remove from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes.
3. Remove plastic wrap (don’t bake covered!) and bake as directed. You might add 10 to 15 minutes onto bake time since you’re baking it from a chilled state.

Other Posts You May Like