Description
Baked Ziti is a classic, hearty pasta dish that transforms any meal into a celebration. Layered with creamy cheese and savory tomato sauce, this dish is the perfect comfort food, ideal for family gatherings or cozy weeknight dinners. With a variety of customizable options, Baked Ziti is versatile, allowing you to tailor it to your tastes while delivering a satisfying meal everyone will love.
Ingredients
1 pound dry ziti pasta
1 onion, chopped
1 pound lean ground beef
2 (26-ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
1 ½ cups sour cream
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cook Pasta: Cook the ziti pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Cook Ground Beef: While the pasta is cooking, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped onion until translucent, then add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat, then stir in the spaghetti sauce. Mix well and simmer for 5 minutes.
Prepare Cheese Layer: In a separate bowl, mix the sour cream and half of the provolone cheese slices.
Assemble the Dish: Layer a baking dish with half of the cooked ziti pasta, then top with half of the meat sauce, followed by half of the sour cream and provolone mixture. Repeat the layers.
Top with Cheese: Finish by topping the casserole with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese.
Bake: Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Notes
Vegetarian Option: Replace the ground beef with sautéed vegetables or lentils for a vegetarian version.
Cheese Variations: For extra flavor, try mixing in ricotta cheese or swapping the provolone with a different cheese like Boursin or cheddar.
Pasta Alternatives: If you don’t have ziti, penne pasta works well as a substitute.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 cup)
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
Keywords: Baked Ziti, Pasta Bake, Comfort Food, Italian-American, Cheese