Save this Cheesy Baked Ziti for dinner! 🧀🍝 Tender pasta is layered with rich tomato meat sauce, creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan, then baked until bubbling and beautifully golden. An easy comfort-food dinner that’s perfect for family meals, gatherings, or make-ahead dinners.
Cheesy Baked Ziti
There’s something especially comforting about pulling a bubbling pasta casserole from the oven.
This Cheesy Baked Ziti combines tender pasta with a rich tomato and beef sauce, creamy ricotta, plenty of mozzarella, and Parmesan. Everything is layered in a baking dish and cooked until the cheese melts into a beautifully golden topping.
It’s straightforward enough for a weeknight but makes a generous amount, so it’s also excellent for family dinners, potlucks, and casual gatherings.
Even better, you can assemble the entire dish ahead of time and bake it when you’re ready.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 450 g (1 lb) ziti pasta
- Salt for the pasta water
For the Meat Sauce
- 500 g (1 lb) ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 700 g (24 oz) crushed tomatoes or marinara sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
For the Cheese Layers
- 250 g (about 1 cup) ricotta cheese
- 300 g (about 2½ cups) shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup (50 g) freshly grated Parmesan
- Fresh parsley or basil for serving
Instructions
Cook the pasta
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil.
Add the ziti and cook until just shy of al dente.
The pasta will continue cooking in the oven, so avoid making it completely tender at this stage.
Drain and set aside.
Brown the meat
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon.
Drain excessive fat if necessary.
Add the aromatics
Add the diced onion to the skillet.
Cook for approximately 3–4 minutes until softened.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
Make the tomato sauce
Stir in the tomato paste and cook briefly.
Add the crushed tomatoes or marinara sauce.
Season with Italian seasoning, oregano, optional red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
Reduce the heat and allow the sauce to simmer gently for approximately 10–15 minutes.
Combine the pasta and sauce
Reserve a little sauce for layering if desired.
Add the cooked ziti to the remaining meat sauce and gently stir until every piece of pasta is coated.
Prepare the ricotta
Place the ricotta in a small bowl.
Add a little salt, black pepper, and about half of the Parmesan.
Stir until combined.
Assemble the baked ziti
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
Lightly grease a large baking dish.
Spread a small amount of tomato sauce across the bottom.
Add approximately half of the pasta mixture.
Spoon dollops of the ricotta mixture across the pasta.
Sprinkle with about half of the mozzarella.
Add the remaining pasta mixture.
Finish generously with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
Bake
Place the baking dish uncovered in the preheated oven.
Bake for approximately 20–25 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling around the edges and the cheese has completely melted.
For an extra-golden topping, broil for the final minute or two while watching carefully.
Rest before serving
Remove the baked ziti from the oven and allow it to rest for approximately 5–10 minutes.
This short resting period helps the layers settle and makes serving easier.
Finish with chopped fresh parsley or basil.
Tips for the Best Baked Ziti
Undercook your pasta slightly. Pasta that’s already completely soft before baking can become mushy in the oven.
Use plenty of sauce. Pasta absorbs moisture while baking, so a generous amount keeps the finished casserole juicy.
Shred your own mozzarella when possible. Freshly shredded cheese generally melts more smoothly.
Let it rest before serving. Cutting into the casserole immediately can cause everything to fall apart.
Easy Variations
Sausage Baked Ziti
Replace some or all of the ground beef with Italian sausage.
Chicken Baked Ziti
Use shredded cooked chicken instead of ground beef.
Vegetarian Baked Ziti
Leave out the meat and add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, or roasted peppers.
Extra-Cheesy Baked Ziti
Add provolone between the layers or increase the mozzarella.
Spicy Baked Ziti
Add extra red pepper flakes or chopped chili peppers to the tomato sauce.
What to Serve With Baked Ziti
Because baked ziti is rich and filling, simple sides work particularly well.
Try it with:
- Garlic bread
- Caesar salad
- Simple green salad
- Roasted broccoli
- Green beans
- Roasted zucchini
- Tomato and cucumber salad
Make-Ahead Instructions
Baked ziti is an excellent make-ahead dinner.
Assemble everything in the baking dish but don’t bake it yet.
Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to about 24 hours.
When you’re ready to eat, remove it from the refrigerator while the oven preheats and bake until completely heated through and bubbling.
A refrigerated casserole may require a little additional baking time.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover baked ziti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave.
For larger portions, cover the baking dish with foil and reheat in the oven until thoroughly hot.
If the pasta looks slightly dry, add a spoonful of tomato sauce before reheating.
Final Note
Tender pasta, hearty tomato meat sauce, creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan make Cheesy Baked Ziti exactly the kind of comforting dinner that’s made for sharing.
It’s easy to assemble, feeds a family, can be prepared ahead, and comes out of the oven bubbling under a generous blanket of melted cheese.