Description
Baked Ziti is a hearty, comforting Italian-American dish filled with layers of tender pasta, savory ground beef, and a blend of melted cheeses. Topped with Parmesan cheese, this easy-to-make casserole is perfect for feeding a crowd or enjoying as a cozy family dinner. Whether you’re looking for a weeknight meal or something special for a gathering, Baked Ziti is always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
- 6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups sour cream
- 6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.
- In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese, and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version of this dish.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle additional Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes into the sauce.
- If you don’t have provolone cheese, you can use any other mild cheese, such as mozzarella or a mix of mozzarella and cheddar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Casserole, Comfort Food
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: baked ziti, Italian casserole, pasta bake, cheesy ziti, ground beef casserole, easy pasta dinner, family dinner