Baked Ziti is an easy to make casserole that reminds me of lasagna. Enjoy it with our homemade sauce, or cut prep time down by using your favorite jar of marinara.

If this combination is one of your favorite, you’ll definitely want to check out more ground beef pasta casseroles here.

Why this recipe works

My kids have always been huge pasta fans, and baked ziti is definitely a family-friendly ground beef dinner. When they all lived at home they asked for this dish what seemed like every other night. Luckily, it’s pretty simple to make.

This recipe requires easy to find ingredients that you can find at most grocery stores. In fact, the most exotic ingredient is ricotta.

After you put the ingredients together and get it in the oven, sit back and enjoy the aroma of fresh baked ziti while it cooks.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

How to Make Homemade Baked Ziti

In this baked ziti recipe, we are providing a homemade sauce. If you prefer a really easy baked ziti, you can absolutely cut down the prep time by using your favorite jarred sauce.

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
In a skillet, add the olive oil and the diced onion. Cook for 5 minutes, or until translucent, soft and fragrant.
Add in the ground beef and spices, cook until no pink remains, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat.
In a saucepan, add the tomato sauce and the whole tomatoes. Using a slotted spoon, scoop in the cooked ground beef, draining the excess fat as you go. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook for 20-25 minutes.
While the tomato sauce mixture is simmering, cook the pasta noodles until just slightly al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking.
In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of the mozzarella cheese, 1 ½ cup of the parmesan cheese and the ricotta.
Add in the noodles and stir to combine.
In a 9×13 casserole dish, spread 1 cup of the meat mixture in the bottom of the baking dish. Scoop in ½ of the cheese and pasta mixture over the meat sauce.
Add another layer of meat sauce, using ½ of the remaining meat sauce. Cover with the second ½ of the pasta and the remaining meat sauce.
Top with the rest of the mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 25 minutes or until the cheese is melted, starting to brown and the sauce is bubbling up on the sides.
Remove from oven, allow to cool, and enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Baked Ziti reheat well?

When we make this, we enjoy the leftovers for a few days. Store leftovers in an airtight container with a lid. You can also leave it in the casserole dish and cover it tightly with aluminum foil. Leftover ziti will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator with the proper covering.

We use the microwave to reheat individual servings, however you could add a tablespoon of water to the pan, cover it with foil, and reheat in the oven as well.

Can I use something other than ground beef?

You need 2 pounds of ground meat for this recipe. If you prefer, instead of ground beef you can use ground pork, ground chicken or ground turkey. Classic baked ziti uses sausage, so feel free to use whatever suits your tastes.

What is ziti and can I use something else?

Ziti is a tube-shaped pasta, similar to rigatoni and penne, but with straight cut ends instead of angled. You can use any tube pasta you like.

Can I freeze baked ziti?

Yes, you can freeze baked ziti. Allow the cooked casserole to cool completely. Cover with aluminum foil, making sure to wrap it tightly around the casserole dish. Place in the freezer for up to a month. To reheat the dish, allow to thaw in the refrigerator then place in the oven to heat through. You can reheat at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until bubbling.

We love this baked ziti served with salad and warm, fresh Italian bread. A real crowd pleaser, this baked casserole it pure comfort food.

More Dinner Recipes

Macaroni and Cheese Casserole with Ham and Peas
John Wayne Casserole
Homemade Green Bean Casserole
Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta
Cheesy Garlic Bread
Chicken Alfredo
Lasagna Roll Ups
Million Dollar Spaghetti

Looking for more ground beef ideas? See our collection of 90 best ground beef recipes here.

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This post was originally published on this blog on May 2, 2010.