There’s nothing quite as comforting as a bubbling dish of baked ziti coming straight out of the oven. This Italian-American classic layers tender pasta, a rich meat sauce, and multiple cheeses to create the ultimate family dinner.
It’s a cozy, crowd-pleasing meal that’s perfect for Sunday suppers, gatherings, or even meal prep for the week ahead.
When baked, the cheeses melt together into creamy, gooey perfection, while the ziti stays beautifully al dente under a layer of golden, bubbly mozzarella.
Serve it with garlic bread and a fresh green salad for a complete meal that everyone will ask for again and again.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 🍝 The Ultimate Comfort Food: Cheesy, saucy, and hearty — everything you crave in a baked pasta dish.
- 🧀 Incredibly Cheesy: Loaded with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan for layers of creamy, melty goodness.
- 👨👩👧👦 Family Favorite: Loved by both kids and adults; it’s simple, filling, and impossible to resist.
- 🔄 Make-Ahead Friendly: Assemble it ahead of time and just pop it in the oven before dinner.
- 🍅 Customizable: Swap meats, adjust cheeses, or sneak in veggies — it’s flexible and forgiving.
Tools You’ll Need
- 9×13-inch baking dish
- Large pot or Dutch oven
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Large mixing bowl
- Aluminum foil
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cheese grater
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage, or a mix of both)
- 28 oz marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 2 cups canned diced tomatoes (with juices)
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: ½ tsp red pepper flakes (for a little heat)
For the Pasta
- 1 lb ziti pasta (penne or rigatoni also work)
For the Ricotta Mixture
- 2 cups ricotta cheese (preferably full-fat)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely minced
- 1 tsp fresh basil, finely minced
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1 large egg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, torn or sliced
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven
Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. - Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook for 1–2 minutes less than package directions — you want it just shy of al dente since it will continue cooking in the oven. Drain and set aside. - Make the Meat Sauce
In a large pot or skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess fat if necessary. Season with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Stir in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and red pepper flakes. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once simmered, taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Set aside 2 cups of the sauce to use later for layering. - Prepare the Ricotta Mixture
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, parmesan, egg, parsley, basil, and grated garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy. - Assemble the Ziti
- Add the cooked pasta to the remaining meat sauce and stir to coat evenly.
- Spoon half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Add dollops of the ricotta mixture across the top and layer with slices of fresh mozzarella.
- Pour half of the reserved sauce evenly over the top.
- Repeat with the remaining pasta, the rest of the ricotta mixture, and top with the remaining shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
- Bake
Cover the dish with aluminum foil (lightly sprayed with nonstick spray so it doesn’t stick to the cheese). Bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, or until the top is bubbling and lightly golden.
For extra browning, broil on high for 1–2 minutes — watch closely so it doesn’t burn. - Serve
Allow the baked ziti to rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
Top Tips
- Make-Ahead: You can prepare the meat sauce or even assemble the entire dish up to a day ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Add Depth: Stir in ½ cup of red wine to the sauce while simmering for a richer flavor.
- Add Veggies: Spinach, mushrooms, or shredded carrots mix beautifully into the sauce or ricotta layer.
- Prevent Sticking: Spray the foil with nonstick spray so it doesn’t pull the cheese off when removing.
- Perfect Pasta Texture: Undercook the pasta slightly — it finishes cooking while baking for the ideal bite.
Storage
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Portion into individual servings and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave for 2–3 minutes or in the oven at 350°F until hot throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use cottage cheese instead of ricotta?
Absolutely! Cottage cheese gives a lighter, slightly tangier flavor and works well as a substitute.
What if I don’t eat beef?
Use Italian sausage, ground turkey, or even a plant-based alternative.
Can I make it vegetarian?
Yes — simply omit the meat and bulk up the sauce with sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach.
Conclusion
This Classic Baked Ziti is the definition of comfort food — rich, cheesy, and satisfying with every bite.
It’s easy enough for a weeknight but impressive enough for a family gathering.
Whether you make it ahead or serve it straight from the oven, it’s guaranteed to become one of your favorite pasta bakes.
Category: Dinner • Pasta • Comfort Food
Classic Baked Ziti
This Italian-American classic layers tender pasta, a rich meat sauce, and multiple cheeses to create the ultimate family dinner.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the Oven. Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the Pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook for 1–2 minutes less than package directions — you want it just shy of al dente since it will continue cooking in the oven. Drain and set aside.
- Make the Meat Sauce. In a large pot or skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess fat if necessary. Season with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Stir in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and red pepper flakes. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once simmered, taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Set aside 2 cups of the sauce to use later for layering.
- Prepare the Ricotta Mixture. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, parmesan, egg, parsley, basil, and grated garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the Ziti. Add the cooked pasta to the remaining meat sauce and stir to coat evenly. Spoon half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Add dollops of the ricotta mixture across the top and layer with slices of fresh mozzarella. Pour half of the reserved sauce evenly over the top.
- Repeat with the remaining pasta, the rest of the ricotta mixture, and top with the remaining shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
- Bake. Cover the dish with aluminum foil (lightly sprayed with nonstick spray so it doesn’t stick to the cheese). Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, or until the top is bubbling and lightly golden.
- For extra browning, broil on high for 1–2 minutes — watch closely so it doesn’t burn.
- Serve. Allow the baked ziti to rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
Notes
Top Tips
Make-Ahead: You can prepare the meat sauce or even assemble the entire dish up to a day ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to bake.
Add Depth: Stir in ½ cup of red wine to the sauce while simmering for a richer flavor.
Add Veggies: Spinach, mushrooms, or shredded carrots mix beautifully into the sauce or ricotta layer.
Prevent Sticking: Spray the foil with nonstick spray so it doesn’t pull the cheese off when removing.
Perfect Pasta Texture: Undercook the pasta slightly — it finishes cooking while baking for the ideal bite.
Storage
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freeze: Portion into individual servings and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave for 2–3 minutes or in the oven at 350°F until hot throughout.
Hey there! I’m Steffan, the food lover and creator behind Biteblis.com. Thank you for stopping by! I hope you’ll explore, get inspired, and find something delicious to cook up at home. My mission is simple: to spread joy through food, one tasty bite at a time. For more info, visit About Us.