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Home » Pasta Recipes » How to make Baked Ziti

How to make Baked Ziti

Published: Aug 21, 2012 · Modified: Jun 9, 2021 by Arlene Mobley · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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How to make Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti is one of my families favorite meals. This How To Make Baked Ziti recipe is how I make baked zZiti when I am planning a big family diiner. This tray will feed a crowd.

How to make Baked Ziti via flouronmyface.com
How to make Baked Ziti


Everyone in the family loves it.....except for my husband. He does not like ricotta cheese! I don't know what his problem is when it comes to ricotta cheese but even when I make homemade sausage lasagna for the family I have to make a smaller separate tray just for him without the ricotta cheese.

How boring is that! Ricotta cheese is the second best part of baked ziti or lasagna. Mozzarella cheese is of course the best ingredient.

My husband is a difficult man to feed. And he wonders why our children are picky eaters. The grand kids are picky eaters also but even they love when I make a big tray of  Baked Ziti.

Here is what you will need to make a big tray of Baked Ziti that will feed a crowd of 6 adults and three or four children with some left overs for the lunch the next day.

How To Make Baked Ziti 

  • 2 pounds ziti pasta
  • 1 large jar of sauce
  • 1 pound of ground beef
  • 32 ounce whole-milk Ricotta cheese
  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 lb ball of whole-milk mozzarella cheese, grated
  • 1 egg
  • fresh or dried parsley
  • salt and pepper to taste

This baked ziti recipe would also make a great freezer meal.

How To Freezer Meal Baked Ziti

Simply make it the same way but when it is done baking cool and then cut into individual servings and freeze in a container or zip lock bag. Be sure to remove most of the air to prevent freezer burn.

How to make Baked Ziti
Baked Ziti Ingredients

 

Beat the egg in a bowl. Add the entire container of ricotta cheese, ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of pepper and 1-2 teaspoons of  chopped parsley.

 Baked Ziti Ricotta Cheese Mixture
Baked Ziti Ricotta Cheese Mixture

 

Cover and refrigerate the ricotta mixture until you're ready to assemble the baked ziti.

 Baked Ziti ground Beef
Baked Ziti ground Beef

 

Brown the ground beef, drain well and return to pot. Open the jar and pour the sauce into the pot with the cooked ground beef, stir and heat. Simmer on low until all your ingredients are ready.

If you'd like to add a little extra seasoning or parmesan cheese as I sometimes do add it now while you are heating the sauce.

If you like homemade sauce better than jarred you of course can substitute it for the jarred sauce..

Cook the ziti noodles per the box instructions. While the pasta is cooking grate the block of cheese.

How to make Baked Ziti
How to make Baked Ziti

 

When the pasta is cooked el dente drain it well and pour into a large baking pan.

 Baked Ziti Adding Sauce to cooked Ziti noodles
Baked Ziti Adding Sauce to cooked Ziti noodles

 

Add  the sauce to the pasta and stir.

 Baked Ziti add sauce
Baked Ziti add sauce

 

Baked Ziti add mozzarella
Baked Ziti add mozzarella

 

Add ⅔ of the pre-shredded mozzarella cheese and stir well.

 Baked Ziti stir in the cheese
Baked Ziti stir in the cheese

 

If your husband is picky like mine and doesn't like ricotta cheese take some of the ziti out of the pan at this point and put it into a small baking dish before you add the ricotta cheese in the next step.

 Add ⅓ of the ricotta cheese mixture.

 Baked Ziti recipe ricotta cheese
Baked Ziti recipe ricotta cheese

 

Stir it in.

 Baked Ziti stir ricotta
Baked Ziti stir ricotta

 

 Baked Ziti dot ricotta on top
Baked Ziti dot ricotta on top

 

Some people like to spread an even layer of ricotta cheese over the top of the ziti. If you do then feel free to spread the ricotta cheese over the top that way. My grandmother did it this way, my mom did it this way and I have always done it this way.

I do the same when I make lasagna.

It really a personal preference.

 Baked Ziti add Mozzarella on top
Baked Ziti add Mozzarella on top

 

Randomly sprinkle the two different types of shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of the ziti covering as much of the ziti noodles as possible.

You might be wondering why I use two different types of mozzarella cheese?

Well I really love the flavor and texture of the block of fresh whole-milk mozzarella. It's expensive though so to be able to enjoy that flavor I mix it with a cheaper mozzarella cheese.

Loosely cover your tray with aluminum foil being sure to tent it over the center of the tray so the melting cheese doesn't stick.

Bake it in a 375 degrees over for 30-45 minutes or until it is bubbling and the cheese is melted.

Baked Ziti Cooked
Baked Ziti Cooked

 

Baked Ziti Cooked

How To Make Homemade Baked Ziti

Arlene Mobley - Flour On My Face
How to make Homemade Baked Ziti for a large family or a crowd. Baked Ziti is a great holiday recipe that will stretch your holiday meal budget.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 12 servings
Calories 752 kcal

Ingredients  

  • 2 pounds ziti
  • 1 jar pasta sauce
  • 1 lb ground beef (browned and drained)
  • 32 ounce whole-milk Ricotta cheese
  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 lb whole-milk mozzarella cheese (ball, grated)
  • 1 egg
  • Fresh or dried parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste
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Instructions 

  • Beat the egg in a bowl. Add the entire container of ricotta cheese, ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of pepper and 1-2 teaspoons of chopped parsley. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate the ricotta mixture until your ready to assemble the baked ziti.
  • Brown the ground beef, drain well and return to the pot.
  • Pour the sauce into the pot with the cooked ground beef and heat. If you'd like to add a little extra seasoning or parmesan cheese as I sometimes do add it now while you are heating the sauce.
  • Cook the ziti noodles per the box instructions. While the pasta is cooking grate the block of cheese. When the pasta is cooked el dente drain it well and pour into a large baking pan.
  • Add the meat and sauce to the pasta and stir. Add ⅔ of the pre-shredded mozzarella cheese and stir well. Add ⅓ of the ricotta cheese mixture. Mix well.
  • Randomly sprinkle the two different types of shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of the ziti covering as much of the ziti noodles as possible.
  • Loosely cover your tray with aluminum foil being sure to tent it over the center of the tray so the melting cheese doesn't stick.
  • Bake it in a 375 degrees over for 30-45 minutes or until it is bubbling and the cheese is melted.

Recipe Expert Tips

  • Some people like to spread an even layer of ricotta cheese over the ziti. If you do then feel free to spread the ricotta cheese over the top instead of adding the spoonfuls as I do. My mom did it this way and I have always done it this way. I do the same when I make lasagna.
  • It really is a personal preference.

Nutrition

Calories: 752kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 43gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 138mgSodium: 867mgPotassium: 600mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1109IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 568mgIron: 3mg
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About Arlene Mobley

Arlene Mobley author of Flour On My Face-a Food & Lifestyle website helping busy families get dinner on the table by serving easy recipes every week.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristin

    February 13, 2019 at 9:38 am

    Hi!! So excited to use this recipe for my son’s christening party on Sunday. Quick question - if I wanted to prepare this and refrigerate before cooking, how many days in advanced so you think I could do that? Would really love to make it on Thursday, store it and then cook on Sunday. Do you think it would be ok? I don’t have the room to freeze.

    Reply
    • Arlene Mobley

      February 13, 2019 at 12:44 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Kristin

      I wouldn't make it more than a day in advance. The pasta will absorb the sauce and it might be very dry.

      Reply
  2. Phyllis

    October 20, 2017 at 9:47 am

    Am I reading correctly? 11 lb block mozzarella?

    Reply
    • Arlene Mobley

      October 20, 2017 at 4:02 pm

      Phyllis

      Sorry for that. No it is a one pound block or ball of fresh mozzarella cheese. Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Tavares

    October 16, 2014 at 3:29 pm

    Oh and I added turkey sausage to it... I'm allergic to pork.still so good.

    Reply
    • Arlene Mobley

      October 16, 2014 at 5:05 pm

      Tavares

      I bet the turkey sausage tastes great in this ziti recipe.

      Reply
  4. Tavares

    October 16, 2014 at 3:20 pm

    I just tried this recipe and this is good, I'll admit I didn't follow it to the teeth, I used penne noodles instead of ziti and I topped it with the ricotta with mozzarella and aged Parmesan... SO GOOD!!!

    Reply
    • Arlene Mobley

      October 16, 2014 at 5:05 pm

      Tavares

      Thanks for trying the recipe. Thats the great thing about cooking...everyone can customize the recipe to their own liking.

      Reply
  5. Theresa @DearCreatives

    September 01, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    This looks like a great recipe. We love making lasagna but, I 'd love to try this sometime just to switch things up.

    Reply
  6. RavieNomNoms

    August 23, 2012 at 9:45 am

    Baked ziti is always delicious. Your recipe looks great!

    Reply
    • Flour On My Face

      August 23, 2012 at 9:51 am

      I agree and Thank you Ravie! Your cake batter blondies look delish!

      Reply
  7. Minnie(thelady8home)

    August 22, 2012 at 11:31 am

    Me and my hubs don't like the sauce, so we often skip pasta......but this looks very very good. My boys will love it.

    Reply
  8. Patricia Lehe

    August 22, 2012 at 7:19 am

    I hate ricotta also!! Like the recipe except for jarred sauce, which I think is a sin in my husbands family.

    Reply
    • Flour On My Face

      August 22, 2012 at 9:08 am

      Patricia

      I would much rather use homemade sauce also but guess what? My husband hates homemade sauce along with the ricotta. If it doesn't come in a cardboard box or a jar from the store he won' eat it. He drives me crazy!

      Reply
  9. Kayle (The Cooking Actress)

    August 21, 2012 at 10:01 am

    Oh I love ricotta! Those globs look delicious! This is a great baked ziti step by step, love <3

    Reply
5 from 1 vote

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Hi, I'm Arlene Mobley the cook & photographer here at Flour On My Face. I have been cooking for my family for over 40 years. I love sharing recipes to help busy families get dinner on the table.

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