There are plenty of ways to make baked ziti, but I like keeping mine as simple as possible. For my easy baked ziti recipe, I use jarred pasta sauce, ground beef seasoned with dried herbs, and ricotta cheese straight from the container. With no veggies to chop or homemade sauce to prepare, I can get this no-fuss dinner in the oven with minimal effort!
What makes this baked ziti recipe different is that I keep it simple on purpose. In addition to using jarred sauce, I don't doctor up the ricotta with extra ingredients, and the only reason I bother shredding the mozzarella myself is because it melts better. But if that doesn't matter to you, then by all means, take the store-bought shortcut!
- No chopping required: The ground beef gets plenty of flavor from dried herbs, so there's no need to spend time chopping onion and garlic.
- Feeds a crowd: This ground beef ziti recipe has been my go-to when my kids have friends over. It makes plenty and fills everyone up!
- Budget-friendly: A can of petite diced tomatoes is an inexpensive way to stretch a jar of pasta sauce without opening up a second jar.
If you're looking for a tomato pasta sauce to make on a Sunday when you have a little more time, try my ground pork bolognese spaghetti recipe. Save this recipe for nights when you need a quick and easy dinner!
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Key Ingredient Notes
- Ziti pasta noodles - I use traditional ziti noodles because they're sturdy and hold onto the sauce and cheese really well. Other short pasta shapes, like penne and rigatoni, are good substitutes.
- Ground beef - Added for protein and heartiness. Make sure to drain any excess grease before adding it to the sauce.
- Tomato basil pasta sauce - Tomato basil pasta sauce complements the seasonings I chose for the ground beef. It also has its own built-in flavor.
- Canned petite diced tomatoes - These help stretch the sauce so you don't need to open a second jar. I prefer petite diced tomatoes because they're smaller and mix more easily into the pasta, while regular diced tomatoes can be fairly chunky.
- Ricotta cheese - I recommend full-fat ricotta for the creamiest texture.
- Mozzarella cheese - This gets sprinkled over the top of the pasta before baking. Freshly shredded mozzarella really does make a difference in how smoothly it melts.
*See the recipe card below for a detailed list of ingredients.
If you love easy recipes that start with a jar of sauce, try my slow cooker ground pork meatballs!
Step-by-Step Instructions with Photos
Before starting, preheat your oven to 350°F and cook your ziti noodles according to the package instructions.
- Add the ground beef to a large skillet with deep sides, and cook over medium heat until no pink remains.
- Stir in the salt, garlic powder, and oregano.
- Once cooked through, carefully drain any excess fat.
- Add the tomato basil pasta sauce and undrained petite diced tomatoes to the skillet with the beef.
- Stir to combine, reduce the heat, partially cover, and let simmer while the pasta finishes cooking.
- Drain the cooked pasta and transfer it back into the large stock pot it was cooked in.
- Add the meat sauce and ricotta and stir until everything is well combined.
- Transfer the pasta mixture into a large baking dish.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the top.
- Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the edges are hot and bubbly.
Love a cheesy pasta bake? Try my meatball stuffed shells for a creative twist on a classic pasta dinner.
My Recipe Testing Notes
- I make this recipe in my Staub 11-inch oval baking dish, which holds just over 2 quarts. It also works well in a standard 9" x 13" baking dish.
- Depending on how lean your beef is, you may not need to drain the fat before adding the remaining sauce ingredients. Use your best judgment based on how much fat is in the pan. If you do need to drain it, carefully pour or spoon the excess fat into a heat-safe container.
- Don't forget to salt your pasta water! This seasons the pasta from the inside and adds flavor to the finished dish.
- Cook your pasta al dente, meaning it's slightly firm but still tender when you bite into it. This ensures it doesn't overcook and turn mushy while baking in the oven.
What to Serve with Baked Ziti
Here are a few easy side dishes to round out the meal:
- Buttery Garlic Bread is an obvious choice, but this crusty, homemade Dutch Oven Bread is also perfect!
- A crisp Caesar Salad or garden salad adds something fresh to the meal.
- Roasted vegetables are easy to make ahead and then reheat when you're ready to serve dinner. Roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts or roasted carrots and green beans are both great options.
For another tomato-based pasta sauce with plenty of cheesy flavor, try my ground turkey pink pasta sauce recipe!
FAQs
No, I don't generally recommend using fresh tomatoes. Canned tomatoes are guaranteed to come with a can full of juices, which this recipe relies upon to bulk up the jar of sauce. There is a chance your fresh tomatoes could be super juicy, but even so, collecting those juices in a measurable quantity is difficult to do.
If you tried this Easy Ziti Recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and tell me how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Easy Baked Ziti Recipe with Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 16 ounces ziti noodles dry, uncooked
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- 24 ounce jar tomato basil pasta sauce
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded low-moisture whole milk mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and cook the pasta. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Cook the ziti noodles according to the package instructions, until al dente (tender but still slightly firm). The pasta will cook while you prepare the meat sauce. When the pasta is done cooking, drain it and return it to the pot it was cooked in.
- Brown the ground beef. While the pasta is cooking, preheat a large, deep-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef to the hot skillet. You don't need to add oil to the pan because the beef will release enough fat as it browns. Break the beef into crumbles with a spatula and cook for about 5 minutes, or until no pink remains. Carefully drain any excess fat before continuing with the meat sauce.
- Season the beef. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the salt, garlic powder, and oregano.
- Make the meat sauce. Add the tomato basil pasta sauce and undrained petite diced tomatoes to the skillet with the cooked beef. Stir to combine, then partially cover the skillet with a lid. Let the meat sauce simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's heated through and slightly thickened.
- Combine the pasta, sauce, and ricotta. Add the meat sauce and ricotta to the cooked and drained pasta, and stir until everything is well combined.
- Assemble the baked ziti. Transfer the pasta mixture to a large baking dish that holds at least 2 quarts, a 9x13-inch dish works well. Spread the pasta into an even layer and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the top.
- Bake and serve. Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the edges are hot and bubbly. Let the baked ziti cool slightly before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
- The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice.
Katie Youngs says
This is a family-favorite recipe!