Description
Tender rigatoni baked into layers of rich meat sauce, melty mozzarella, and a touch of ricotta—this baked ziti is the ultimate comfort food. The sauce clings to every bite, the cheese bubbles on top, and the whole thing slices beautifully.
Ingredients
1 pound rigatoni pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup water
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook the rigatoni 2 minutes less than package instructions; drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned.
4. Add garlic, salt, pepper, tomato paste, sugar, and red pepper flakes. Stir for 2 minutes.
5. Add crushed tomatoes and water. Simmer on low heat for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
6. Mix cooked pasta with 1 1/2 cups of the meat sauce.
7. Layer in a 9×13 inch baking dish: start with pasta, then spoonfuls of ricotta, a sprinkle of parmesan, meat sauce, and a layer of mozzarella.
8. Repeat layers until ingredients are used up, finishing with a thick layer of mozzarella on top.
9. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
10. Remove foil and bake another 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
11. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with parsley if desired.
Notes
Undercook the pasta slightly to prevent it from getting mushy when baked.
Simmer the sauce until thick—it should coat the pasta, not pool at the bottom.
Let it rest before slicing so the layers hold together.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: baked ziti, pasta bake, cheesy pasta, meat sauce casserole