Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340 g) ziti or penne pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 1.5 cup shredded mozzarella
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan or Romano
- Fresh basil or parsley (optional)
Steps
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until just al dente; drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and ground meat; cook until browned and cooked through, breaking up any clumps.
- Stir in marinara sauce, oregano, salt, and pepper; simmer 5–7 minutes.
- Combine cooked pasta with the meat sauce in a large bowl or the pasta pot.
- Pour half of the pasta mixture into a greased baking dish.
- Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
- Add the remaining pasta and top with the rest of the cheeses.
- Bake 15–20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with basil or parsley if desired and serve hot.
