Description
A delicious baked ziti recipe layered with ricotta, ground meat, and rich marinara sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 tbsp finely diced carrots
- 3 tbsp finely diced celery
- 3 tbsp finely diced onion
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 tbsp good extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lb ground meat (beef, turkey, or sausage — your choice)
- 1 jar (24 oz) Antonio Carlo Original Recipe Marinara
- 1 jar (24 oz) Antonio Carlo Arrabbiata Sauce
- 30 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 egg (beaten)
- ½ cup sauce (a ladleful from the pot)
- ¼ cup freshly chopped parsley
- 1 lb ziti (cooked al dente)
- 1½ cups additional shredded mozzarella (for layering)
- ½ cup additional grated Parmesan (for layering)
- Olive oil or nonstick spray for the baking dish
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
- Add the garlic and cook 1–2 minutes more.
- Add the ground meat to the pot.
- Sauté until fully cooked, about 10 minutes.
- Add the sauces: 24 oz Antonio Carlo Original Recipe Marinara and 24 oz Antonio Carlo Arrabbiata.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and simmer 5 minutes so the flavors meld.
- Make the ricotta mixture: add ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, ½ cup Parmesan, beaten egg, and ¼ cup fresh parsley.
- Add 1 ladleful (about ½ cup) of the hot sauce and mix until creamy and slightly pink.
- Add the cooked ziti directly into the ricotta mixture.
- Stir until every noodle is coated in that creamy, pink, cheesy goodness.
- Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom.
- Add half the creamy ziti mixture.
- Spoon a layer of sauce over it.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella, Parmesan, and fresh parsley.
- Add the remaining ziti mixture.
- Add a generous layer of sauce on top (you will have about 1 cup of sauce left over — save it for your appetizer hack!).
- Finish with mozzarella, Parmesan, and parsley.
- Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, or until hot, bubbly, and lightly golden on top.
- Let it rest 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Total cook time: about 40 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg