Go Back
A steaming dish of baked ziti dinner, perfect for busy nights

Easy Weeknight Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce

This Easy Weeknight Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce is a comforting and hearty dish perfect for any night of the week. Al dente ziti is layered with a rich meat sauce, a creamy ricotta mixture, and plenty of gooey mozzarella cheese, then baked to golden perfection.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 1 pound Ziti pasta (or penne, rigatoni)
Meat Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean)
  • large onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 jar marinara sauce (24-ounce)
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes (15-ounce)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
Ricotta Mixture
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cheese Topping
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Equipment

  • large pot
  • large skillet or Dutch oven
  • medium bowl
  • 9x13-inch baking dish

Method
 

Prep Steps
  1. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a skillet, add chopped onion and cook until soft; then add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, draining excess fat.
Sauce and Ricotta
  1. Stir in minced garlic, then add marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper; simmer for at least 15 minutes.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, mixing well.
Assemble and Bake
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Spread about 1 cup of meat sauce, then layer half the cooked ziti, dollop the ricotta mixture, and spread half of the remaining meat sauce.
  3. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, then repeat layers with remaining ziti, meat sauce, and top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella.
  4. Cover and bake for 30 minutes, then remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
  5. Let the baked ziti rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Notes

For an extra cheesy top, sprinkle a final bit of Parmesan cheese before the last bake. Ensure pasta is al dente to prevent it from becoming mushy during baking. If you are short on time, you can prepare the meat sauce and ricotta mixture a day ahead. This dish reheats well, making it great for meal prep. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days in an airtight container.