Easy Baked Ziti Recipe

5 from 14 votes

Easy Baked Ziti Recipe

Easy baked ziti recipe is a meaty baked pasta smothered in a cream cheese tomato sauce. It's ready in 30 minutes and feeds a crowd!

Prep Time10

Cook Time45

Total Time55

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Servings:

Author: Kristyn Merkley

Equipment

9x13 baking dish

Ingredients

1 (16-ounce) package ziti
½ pound ground beef, 80% lean / 20% fat
½ pound mild Italian sausage
1½-2 cups marinara sauce, (we love Rao’s)
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon garlic salt with parsley flakes
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
fresh basil, for garnish

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish and set aside.
Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, cook ground beef and Italian sausage in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring and breaking up into small pieces, until no longer pink, 7-10 minutes. Drain fat and set saucepan aside.
In a large pot over medium heat, combine marinara sauce, tomatoes, cream cheese, and sour cream and cook, stirring often, until well blended and cream cheese is melted.
Add cooked pasta and sauce to the saucepan with ground beef and mix well. Add garlic salt and Italian seasoning.
Pour into the perpared pan. Top with fresh mozzarella and shredded mozzarella.
Bake for 20 minutes, uncovered.
Let rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil.

Video

Notes

Recipe Tips.

Cook pasta just to al dente, as it keeps its texture after baking. You can also salt the pasta water so the noodles are tasty before saucing
To help keep the top noodles from drying out, cover all of the noodles with cheese. If needed, cover with foil to finish baking.
You can also use rigatoni, shells, pinwheel, penne, bow tie, or other similar-sized noodles.
Add sautéed bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or spinach to the pasta mixture.
Boost the heat by using hot Italian sausage, adding red pepper flakes, or adding some hot sauce to the marinara.

Prep ahead. Prepare the casserole as directed, but don't top with cheese or bake. Instead, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 days, or wrap again with foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw if needed, add cheese, and bake.

Store leftovers in an airtight container(s) and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freezer for 2-3 months before reheating.

For more substitutions and tips, check out the full recipe post

Nutrition