Baked pasta dishes are the ultimate comfort food, and this Easy Baked Ziti Recipe is no exception. Layers of homemade Bolognese sauce, perfectly cooked pasta, cream, and melty cheese will have your family asking for seconds!
Make Ahead Instructions
To make this dish ahead of time you can either make the meat sauce the day before (and keep it in the fridge), cook the pasta, and assemble the casserole the day you plan to serve it, or you can assemble the whole dish, cover it with plastic wrap, refrigerate it the night before, and bake it when you’re ready!
Variations and Substitutions
- For a lighter version, use ground chicken or turkey instead of ground beef.
- If you don’t like provolone cheese, use 16 oz mozzarella or substitute it with your favorite melty cheese.
- To add a bit more color, add small-diced green bell peppers.
- Add chopped artichoke hearts or sun-dried tomatoes to add more flavor.
- If you can’t find ziti, you can use penne or your favorite short pasta shape.
How to Store Baked Ziti Recipe
You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Add a little splash of water before reheating in the microwave or oven.
How to Freeze Baked Ziti Recipe
Cover the assembled dish twice with plastic wrap and once with foil and freeze, unbaked, for up to 3 months.
You can also freeze the baked dish. Let it come to room temperature, wrap it twice with plastic wrap and once with foil, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Let it thaw in the fridge overnight, add a splash of water, and bake, covered, for 15-20 minutes or until hot.
Tips for making the BEST Homemade Baked Ziti
- The pasta should be cooked until al dente. If you overcook the pasta, it will become too soft while baking.
- Don’t buy pre-grated cheese. It doesn’t melt properly because they have anti-caking ingredients that prevent them from melting properly.
Homemade Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz ziti pasta
- ½ cup onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 2- 24 oz jars spaghetti sauce
- 8 slices provolone cheese
- 1 ½ cups sour cream
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded or grated
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Cook the ziti in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- While the pasta is cooking, brown the ground beef along with the onion and garlic in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Pour in the spaghetti sauce and simmer for 15 mins.
- Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and assemble the dish as follows:- Place half of the cooked ziti into the baking dish- Add a layer of provolone cheese slices- Spread the sour cream over the provolone cheese- Spoon in half of the Bolognese sauce- Add the remaining ziti pasta- Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the pasta- Spoon in the remaining half of the Bolognese sauce- Top with the Parmesan cheese
- Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
