Ziti might not be as famous as spaghetti or lasagna, but this classic Italian pasta dish deserves just as much love. This recipe will show you how to create a mouthwatering ziti that would make any Italian nonna proud. Let’s get cooking!
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (28 oz) cans crushed tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Cook the ziti in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook until the onion is translucent.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, basil, and oregano. Simmer for about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a large baking dish, layer half of the cooked ziti, followed by half of the meat sauce.
- Dot the surface with spoonfuls of ricotta cheese, then sprinkle with half of the mozzarella.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining ziti, meat sauce, and mozzarella.
- Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
