Easy Baked Ziti with Ground Beef & Ricotta (Ultimate Comfort Food)

Growing up, baked ziti always felt like one of those dishes you only got at a restaurant… or at a friend’s house where everything somehow tasted better.

But here’s the truth: baked ziti is just a simple casserole — made incredible.

It’s layers of tender pasta, rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melty cheese baked together until golden and bubbling. The kind of meal that feels like you spent hours cooking… when really, the oven does most of the work.

And once you make it at home, you’ll realize just how easy (and addictive) it is ❤️

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✨ Why You’ll Love This Baked Ziti

✔ Cheesy, hearty comfort food everyone loves
✔ Made with simple, budget-friendly ingredients
✔ Perfect for meal prep and leftovers
✔ Freezer-friendly
✔ Ready in about 1 hour

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🧾 Ingredients

🍝 Pasta

• 16 oz ziti

🍖 Meat Sauce

• 1.25 lb ground beef
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1/2 onion, finely diced
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 26 oz spaghetti sauce
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1.5 tsp Italian seasoning
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

🧀 Ricotta Layer

• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/3 cup Parmesan
• 1/4 tsp salt

🧀 Topping

• 2.5 cups mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup Parmesan

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Cook the pasta

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Cook ziti in salted water, but drain 1–2 minutes before al dente to avoid mushy pasta later.

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2. Make the meat sauce

Brown the ground beef in a skillet for 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat.

In the same pan, melt butter, sauté onion for 2–3 minutes, then add garlic and cook 1 minute.

Stir in spaghetti sauce, seasonings, and return beef. Simmer for 5 minutes.

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3. Prepare ricotta mixture

In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, Parmesan, sugar, and salt until smooth.

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4. Combine pasta & sauce

Mix cooked pasta with the meat sauce until evenly coated.

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5. Assemble

In a 9×13-inch dish:

• Layer half the pasta
• Add ricotta mixture (spread evenly)
• Sprinkle half the mozzarella
• Add remaining pasta
• Top with remaining mozzarella + Parmesan

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6. Bake

Bake for 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden.

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7. Rest & serve

Let sit for 5 minutes before serving (important for clean slices!).

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💡 Pro Tips

✔ Don’t overcook pasta before baking
✔ Always drain beef to avoid greasy sauce
✔ Spread ricotta evenly (no big clumps)
✔ Let it rest before serving

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🔄 Substitutions

• Pasta → penne, rigatoni
• Beef → turkey, chicken, sausage
• Ricotta → cottage cheese
• Sauce → marinara or homemade
• Cheese → provolone, fontina

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🍽️ What to Serve With Baked Ziti

• Caesar salad 🥗
• Garlic bread 🥖
• Roasted vegetables 🥦
• Caprese salad 🍅

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❄️ Storage & Reheating

Fridge: up to 4 days
Freezer: up to 3 months

👉 Reheat at 350°F for 20 min or microwave portions