Go Back

Layered Baked Ziti

Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion chopped (optional)
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large can or jar of tomato sauce
  • 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes drained
  • 2 tsp Italian seasonings
  • 1 tsp salt & pepper
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 16 oz box ziti or rigatoni noodles cooked

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In a large pan, add olive oil, chopped onions and garlic. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add ground beef and cook until completely browned, drain fat. Return to pan.
  4. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasonings, salt and pepper.
  5. Bring to a simmer and cook for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente, rinse and set aside.
  7. While the pasta is cooking mix together your ricotta, cottage cheese, 1 egg, 1/2 cup of Parmesan and a dash of Italian seasonings.
  8. Lightly spray a baking dish with a nonstick spray then add a small amount of meat mixture in the bottom of dish. Spread around.
  9. Add half of the noodles. Next, spread 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture on top of pasta. Spoon 1/3 meat mixture on top. Next add 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese.
  10. Repeat with another layer of pasta, ricotta cheese mixture, meat mixture, mozzarella cheese.
  11. Final layer is pasta, remaining meat mixture and cheese.
  12. Cover with foil, cook for approximately 25 minutes. Remove foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

    Notes

    This goes well served with garlic bread and salad! Enjoy!