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Best Baked Ziti

Best Baked Ziti

Discover the ultimate Best Baked Ziti recipe, a cheesy, comforting dish that delights every palate.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 557
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta & Sauces
  • 300 g ziti or penne pasta or penne pasta
  • 700 g tomato passata
  • 1/2 cup water
Meat & Dairy
  • 500 g ground beef or pork or 50/50 combo
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese optional
  • 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated, optional
Vegetables & Seasonings
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 tsp fennel seeds optional
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper or 3/4 tsp chilli flakes
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
Garnish
  • finely chopped parsley or basil optional garnish

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • Baking Dish
  • pot

Method
 

Cooking Steps
  1. Cook ziti for the recommended cooking time on the packet MINUS 2 minutes. Drain, then return to pot.
  2. Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
  3. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 2 minutes or until onion is translucent.
  4. Add meat and cook, breaking it up as you go. When it is just cooked, add seasonings and cook for 2 minutes.
  5. Add passata, water, basil, oregano, and sugar. Bring to simmer, reduce heat to low and cook for 10 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Pour about 2 cups of sauce into the pot with the ziti. Toss.
  7. Spread ziti into baking dish (23x33cm / 9?13"). Dollop with ricotta. Pour over remaining sauce. Top with cheese and parmesan.
  8. Cover loosely with foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil, bake further 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is golden.
  9. Sprinkle with parsley or basil if desired, then serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 557kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 39gFat: 21gSodium: 1016mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7g

Notes

Customize your ziti by swapping ground meat for turkey or keeping it vegetarian with saut?ed vegetables. This dish works beautifully for meal prep or special occasions.

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