Baked Ziti: A Flavorful Pasta Bake

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook the ziti pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, and cook until the onion is translucent.
3. Stir in the marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, half of the shredded mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are combined.
4. Add the cooked ziti pasta to the skillet with the sauce mixture. Stir until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce.
5. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
6. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. Once baked, let the Baked Ziti cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil, if desired.

Make-Ahead Tips

If you want to make this Baked Ziti ahead of time, you can assemble it in the baking dish and refrigerate it overnight. When you’re ready to bake it, simply remove it from the refrigerator, let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes, and then bake it according to the instructions.