Easy Recipes: Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti
This comforting baked ziti is loaded with cheese, rich tomato sauce, and festive flair—perfect for your holiday dinner table!
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess fat.
- Add marinara sauce and Italian seasoning to the beef. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, half of the mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
- Combine the cooked pasta with the cheese mixture and half of the meat sauce.
- Spread a layer of the remaining meat sauce in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Add the ziti mixture on top, then pour the remaining sauce over everything.
- Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot!