Simply Baked Ziti

If you are looking for a hearty dish of comfort food, this baked ziti recipe is it! Tender ziti pasta is layered with ground beef, two types of cheese, and a simple pasta sauce. Add a pinch of fresh basil to the top and you have a meal your kids will fight over!

Let’s face it, moms—we all have those nights when dinner feels like one more thing on an already endless to-do list.

Between after-school activities, homework battles, and the occasional (okay, frequent) toy explosion in the living room, finding time to cook something wholesome and satisfying can feel impossible. That’s where baked ziti comes to the rescue!

This classic, kid-approved dish is a total lifesaver. It’s hearty, comforting, and so simple to make that even the busiest mom can whip it up without breaking a sweat. Plus, it’s versatile enough to please even the pickiest eaters!

The best part? Baked ziti can be prepped ahead of time and even stashed in the freezer for those “just heat and eat” nights. So, let’s get started on a dinner your whole family will devour!

Ingredients

• Pasta: I like the classic ziti noodle, but you can also substitute it with penne, rigatoni, or even gluten-free pasta if you need to.
• Ground beef: Not a ground beef fan? Swap for ground turkey, chicken, or even Italian sausage.
• Pasta sauce: My favorite is Raos! I’ve tried other brands, and that’s the one I always come back to. It’s a bit more expensive than other brands, but totally worth it!
• Eggs
• Ricotta Cheese: If you don’t have ricotta, you can replace it with cottage cheese or mascarpone.
• Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Parmesan cheese, grated
• Basil: Fresh basil is definitely better than dried here!

How to Make Baked Ziti

This easy baked ziti is a hearty pasta dish that I’ve been making for longer than I can remember. With simple ingredients, this kid-friendly dinner takes about 20 minutes to prepare (with another hands-free 45 minutes in the oven), but it tastes like I’ve spent hours cooking on the stove!

Note: this recipe makes a lot, so you can half the ingredients and use an 8×8″ pan for a smaller amount. Or, you can keep the ingredients the same and use two 8×8″ pans, then stick one in the freezer! I’ll show you exactly how to freeze and reheat this dish below.

First, start by cooking the ziti pasta according to the package directions. Now’s the time to go ahead and preheat the oven, too!

Next, cook the ground beef over medium heat until it’s fully cooked and no longer pink.

Stir in the pasta sauce and warm the mixture up for a few minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally.

In the meantime, mix the eggs, ricotta cheese, 1.5 cups of mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl.

Drain the pasta, add to the cheese mixture, and gently toss. The hot pasta will melt the cheese together.

Now it’s time to assemble the baked ziti casserole!

Spoon a third of the meat sauce into the bottom of a 9x13x2″ baking dish.

Then, top with half of the pasta mixture.

Spoon half of the remaining meat mixture on the pasta.

Top with the rest of the cheesy pasta.

Add the remaining meat sauce and spread on top, leaving a little room at the edges.

Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake it at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Then, uncover the baked ziti and sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.

Stick it back in the oven and bake for 5-10 more minutes until that cheese is nice and gooey.

Top the baked ziti with basil leaves if you are using them (so yummy!) Then, let the dish stand for 10-15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Storage

Baked ziti will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

I have to add that because this is such a tasty, easy to make dinner, this is my go-to recipe whenever I make a meal for someone in need. Whether it’s a family with a new baby or a friend recovering from surgery, this pasta dish is always well received.

I will even bring two of these sometimes – one frozen version and a baked one in foil pans so they have two meals at their disposal! 

This baked ziti with ricotta works very well as a freezer meal. I will often double or triple the recipe when I make this for my own family, too, particularly if ground beef is on sale.

Should you freeze baked ziti before or after baking?

Baked ziti, just like any pasta casserole, should be frozen after you assemble the dish but before baking. So, layer the dish as described in the recipe card below, then instead of putting it in the oven, wrap the dish with foil and put it in the freezer.

To cook, bake straight from frozen at 375°F, covered, for about 1 hour, then uncover and bake for another 10–15 minutes. Easy peasy!

Time-Saving Tips

When you’re a busy mom, every minute counts, so, here are a few ways to make preparing baked ziti even easier:

Prep Ahead: Assemble the baked ziti earlier in the day (or even the night before) and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Just add 10–15 minutes to the baking time if starting from cold.

Store-Bought Shortcuts: No shame in saving time! Use a high-quality jarred marinara sauce and pre-shredded cheese to cut down on prep time. Look for marinara with simple, wholesome ingredients.

Simplify Cleanup: Use a disposable aluminum baking dish if you’re prepping for the freezer or delivering a meal to a friend.

FAQs

What can I use instead of ground beef?

As delicious as this meal is, it’s also filled with good-for-you protein too. This recipe calls for 2 pounds of ground beef, and that’s how I (and my family!) like it best. But, if you aren’t a ground beef fan or are trying to be a little more health-conscious, you can swap it out for ground turkey or chicken.

I’ve also tried this baked ziti with meat using ground sausage, and it was delicious!

If you want to stretch your grocery budget a little, you can also cut down on the meat used. Instead of 2 pounds of ground beef, using just one pound works fine, too.

Can I use penne or another pasta shape?

Absolutely! Penne, rigatoni, or any tubular pasta works just as well as ziti. The key is to use pasta that holds the sauce well.

What is the difference between baked ziti vs. lasagna?

Baked ziti and lasagna are both classic Italian-American comfort foods, but they differ in several ways.

First of all, the pasta used in each is different. Baked ziti is made with tubular pasta, like ziti or sometimes penne, which is mixed with a cheesy sauce before being baked in a casserole dish.

Lasagna, on the other hand, features those classic wide, flat noodles that are layered with sauce, cheese, and fillings to create a more structured layered dish.

Personally, I find lasagna isn’t as big a hit with my family as baked ziti or baked penne, so I rarely make it!

Help! Why is my baked ziti so watery?

If your baked ziti turns out watery, it could be due to a few common issues:

• Overcooked pasta: Boiling the pasta for too long can cause it to release excess starch and water during baking. Be sure to cook the pasta al dente—it will finish cooking in the oven.
• Too much sauce: Using too much marinara sauce or a sauce with high water content can make the dish soupy. Opt for a thicker sauce (like Rao’s, the sauce I swear by!).
• Not draining the pasta well: Make sure to drain the pasta thoroughly after cooking; even a little leftover pasta water can add unnecessary moisture.
• Skipping the cheese layer: A layer of cheese on top acts as a barrier, helping to lock in moisture while preventing excess liquid from pooling.

By tweaking these steps, you’ll end up with perfectly creamy, non-watery baked ziti every time!

More Dinner Recipes to Try

• Hearty + Cheesy Baked Penne Casserole
• Easy Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
• The Best Easy Taco Pizza Dinner
• Easy Beef and Bean Enchiladas

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