Description
This baked ziti recipe features a rich three-cheese tomato sauce and perfectly cooked pasta, elevated with smoked paprika for a comforting and flavorful Italian-American dish. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser perfect for any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 450 g (1 lb) ziti pasta
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced (≈150 g / ½ cup)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 500 g (1.1 lb) ground beef
- 1 tsp (5 ml) salt
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) black pepper
- 1 tsp (5 ml) dried oregano
- 1 tsp (5 ml) dried basil
- 1 tsp (5 ml) smoked paprika
- 800 g (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) tomato paste
- 1 tsp (5 ml) sugar
- 250 g (9 oz) ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 150 g (5.3 oz) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 50 g (1.8 oz) Parmesan cheese, grated
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F) and grease a baking dish.
- Cook Ziti: Boil ziti for 7-8 minutes until al dente, then drain.
- Sauté Aromatics: Sauté onion in olive oil until softened, then add garlic.
- Brown Beef: Brown ground beef, drain excess grease.
- Season Meat: Season beef with salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and paprika.
- Simmer Sauce: Simmer sauce with tomatoes, paste, and sugar for 12-15 minutes.
- Prep Ricotta: Combine ricotta, egg, and Parmesan.
- Combine & Layer: Toss pasta with sauce and ricotta, layer in dish, and top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Bake: Bake covered for 20 minutes, then uncovered for 8-10 minutes.
- Rest & Garnish: Let rest for 5 minutes, garnish with basil.
Notes
For a richer flavor, use full-fat ricotta and freshly grated Parmesan. Adjust baking time based on your oven.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg