Description
This Easy Baked Ziti Recipe is a delightful twist on a classic Italian-American dish, bringing together layers of ziti pasta, savory ground beef, and gooey cheese for a satisfying meal. Perfect for busy weeknights or family gatherings, this comforting casserole is quick to prepare and can be customized with your favorite vegetables or pasta types. With its rich marinara sauce and creamy texture from added sour cream, this baked ziti is sure to please everyone at the table. Plus, it makes great leftovers—just reheat and enjoy!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti or penne noodles
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 can (15-ounce) diced tomatoes
- 1 jar (26-ounce) spaghetti sauce
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese (divided)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook the ziti according to package instructions until al dente; drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onions and garlic until tender. Add ground beef and cook until browned, then stir in diced tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10–15 minutes.
- Stir in sour cream and cooked ziti until well combined. Layer half into the baking dish, top with 1 cup mozzarella cheese, add remaining ziti mixture, then finish with another cup of mozzarella on top.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the dish (about 300g)
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg