Serve Belly-filling Baked Ziti for Dinner!

 

Cheater’s Lasagna should be 

the name for this dish!

 

  

Do you like lasagna, but could do without the fuss?  Make this baked ziti instead.  It has about the same flavors, is easy to make and is just as tasty.  

 

 

This baked ziti has a few layers like a lasagna ensuring that every bite is filled with savory sauce, meat, creamy ricotta, and best of all, stringy mozzarella.  

 

It's an easy main dish to make ahead and warm up before serving.  This time, I divided the mixture between two casserole dishes ~ placed one in the freezer for a later meal, another day.

The key to the success of the dish comes from under-cooking the pasta when boiling it, cook it almost to the point of being al dente.  You have to actually under-cook it if you like your pasta al dente.

 

Ricotta cheese adds contrast among the bold flavors of the tomato-based sauce, meat and mozzarella.  A simple version of the ricotta mixture includes a lightly beaten egg or two to help bind the ricotta to prevent it from becoming grainy or dry during baking, a little cream or milk could be used in its place.  

 

Use whatever sauce you like, your mama’s homemade version or Prego sauce off the grocery store shelf like I did.  

 

 

Try this ziti, it’s a cheesy mess of deliciousness, and we love it!

 

 

Belly-filling Baked Ziti

Servings: 8

Author: Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner

Prep time: 15 MinCooking time: 50 MinTotal time: 1 H & 4 M

This baked ziti has a few layers, like a lasagna, ensuring that every bite is filled with savory sauce, meat, creamy ricotta, and best of all, stringy mozzarella.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon seasoned pepper
• 1 (16 ounces) box ziti pasta
• 2 (24 ounces) jars pasta sauce (I use Prego Tomato Basil Garlic Sauce)
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 carton (15 ounces) ricotta cheese
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Cook pasta as directed on box, not quite al dente;  strain, set aside.
3. Brown beef and onion in large skillet over medium heat, add pepper.
4. Once beef is cooked, drain excess grease.
5. Add pasta sauce and garlic powder to beef, combine well.
6. Heat sauce mixture until warmed through.
7. In a large bowl, combine eggs and ricotta cheese, and half of mozzarella.
8. Coat two 9" x 13 " baking dishes with cooking spray.
9. Layer half of pasta/beef mixture in dish.
10. Smooth ricotta mixture over pasta.
11. Spread remaining pasta mixture over top.
12. Combine Parmesan and remaining mozzarella and cover all.
13. Cover and bake for about 40 minutes, or until heated through.
14. Uncover, and bake an additional 5-10 minutes until top is golden and cheese is bubbly.

Notes:

This Baked Ziti makes enough for a crowd. You can scale it down for your family. I made full recipe, 2 casseroles, and froze one for a later meal.

Serve with hot garlic bread and a tossed green salad.

 

 

Enjoy!