How to Make Meaty Baked Ziti - A Step-by-Step Guide

Meaty Baked Ziti is a comforting and hearty Italian-American dish that is perfect for a cozy family dinner or a casual gathering with friends. This classic baked pasta dish is made with a rich and savory meat sauce, tender ziti pasta, and a generous amount of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. It's a dish that is sure to please even the pickiest eaters, and it's a great way to feed a crowd without spending hours in the kitchen.

The key to a delicious Meaty Baked Ziti is the meat s...

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound bulk mild Italian sausage
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 (14.5 ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with juice
  • ½ cup diced white onion
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 (16 ounce) package ziti pasta
  • 1 (15 ounce) container whole-milk ricotta cheese
  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 12 slices provolone cheese

Information

  • Prep Time: 25 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hr 35 mins
  • Additional Time: 5 mins
  • Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 12 servings

  • Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sausage and ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomato sauce, whole tomatoes with juice, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, basil, sugar, and red pepper flakes; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Turn off the heat. Transfer 3 cups sauce to a bowl and leave remaining sauce in the pot; allow to cool while you prepare ziti.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain ziti and rinse under cool water to stop it from cooking.
  • Combine ricotta, 2 cups mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, 2 tablespoon parsley, and pepper in a bowl; stir together with a few turns but do not mix completely. Pour drained ziti into the bowl and toss until slightly combined with large lumps. Add the reserved 3 cups meat sauce and toss to combine.
  • Place 1/2 of the pasta mixture into a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Spoon 1/2 of the remaining sauce over top, layer with 6 slices of provolone and 1 cup mozzarella. Repeat layers: pasta mixture, remaining sauce, 6 slices provolone, and 1 cup mozzarella. Cover with foil.
  • Place on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven until bubbling, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake until cheese is fully melted and slightly browned, 5 to 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with parsley. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
  • Nutrition

    593 cal.

    • Total Fat: 32g
    • Saturated Fat: 16g
    • Cholesterol: 111mg
    • Sodium: 1030mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 37g
    • Dietary Fiber: 2g
    • Total Sugars: 4g
    • Protein: 39g
    • Vitamin C: 8mg
    • Calcium: 692mg
    • Iron: 4mg
    • Potassium: 526mg