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Creamy Baked Ziti: Easy Homemade Meat Sauce

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A comforting, creamy baked ziti featuring a rich homemade meat sauce and a blend of ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses. This easy weeknight dinner comes together in under an hour and is perfect for feeding a hungry family.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 fat ratio preferred)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes (San Marzano recommended)
  • 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine (Cabernet or Merlot)
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese (whole milk)
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 lb ziti pasta (or penne/rigatoni)
  • Olive oil for tossing pasta

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti pasta until 1-2 minutes before al dente. Drain and toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
  3. In a large Dutch oven or skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Drain excess fat if necessary, then remove beef to a bowl.
  4. In the same pan, sauté diced onion until soft and translucent. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Pour in red wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits.
  6. Add crushed tomatoes, beef broth, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Return the beef to the pan and simmer on low heat for at least 10 minutes.
  7. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, half of the mozzarella, parmesan, egg, parsley, and salt. Mix until smooth.
  8. In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta with the meat sauce until evenly coated.
  9. Spread half of the pasta mixture into the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Dollop half of the cheese mixture over the pasta and spread it out.
  10. Repeat with the remaining pasta and cheese mixture. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on top.
  11. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
  12. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not overcook the pasta as it will finish cooking in the oven. Ensure the beef is drained well to prevent an oily dish. Letting the casserole rest before serving helps the layers set for cleaner scoops. For a vegetarian version, swap beef for lentils or mushrooms. For gluten-free, use GF ziti and ensure wine/broth are certified GF.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked ziti, creamy pasta, homemade meat sauce, easy weeknight dinner, comfort food, family dinner, Italian casserole

Find it online: https://zoeplate.com/creamy-baked-ziti-easy-homemade-meat-sauce/