Homemade Baked Ziti
My easy homemade baked ziti recipe with ground beef: tender pasta, rich tomato sauce, and melty cheese baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti or penne (450 g)
- 1 lb ground beef (450 g)
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups tomato passata (or marinara sauce) (720 ml)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 5.5 oz shredded mozzarella (155 g)
- 2 oz grated parmesan (55 g)
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
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1) Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until just shy of al dente, then drain it and set it aside.
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2) Heat the olive oil in a large pan and brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks.
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3) Add the chopped onion, tomato paste and minced garlic and let them soften for a couple of minutes.
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4) Pour in the tomato passata or marinara sauce. Season with the oregano and basil, and salt, and pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
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5) Stir the cooked pasta into the sauce until everything is evenly coated.
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6) Transfer everything to a baking dish and sprinkle the mozzarella and parmesan over the top.
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7) Bake at 392°F (200°C) for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling. Let the baked ziti rest for five minutes before serving so it sets slightly and scoops cleanly.
