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Delicious baked ziti with ground beef featuring layers of pasta, meat sauce, and melted cheese in a casserole dish

Classic Ground Beef Baked Ziti - Comfort Food Made Easy

This baked ziti with ground beef recipe delivers authentic Italian comfort food that's both accessible and impressive. With tender pasta, perfectly seasoned meat sauce, and three layers of melted cheese, it creates memorable family dinners that satisfy even the pickiest eaters.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Comfort Food, Pasta
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 485
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ziti pasta or penne
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb ground beef 85/15 lean
  • 1 small yellow onion finely diced
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 24 oz jar marinara sauce
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning blend
  • 1 tbsp sweet paprika
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh basil or parsley for garnish

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cook ziti pasta in salted water until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in skillet. Sauté onion until translucent, then add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  3. Add ground beef, cook 5-7 minutes until browned. Season with Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper. Stir in marinara sauce and red pepper flakes. Simmer 10 minutes.
  4. Mix cooked ziti with 2 cups of meat sauce. Spread half into baking dish. Add dollops of ricotta and sprinkle half mozzarella and Parmesan.
  5. Add remaining pasta mixture and top with remaining sauce. Finish with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
  6. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10-15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Keep pasta al dente before baking to prevent mushiness. Use small ricotta dollops for even melting. Let baked ziti rest before serving for cleaner slices.