Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce is a simple, satisfying dinner made with ground beef and plenty of melted mozzarella. This classic Italian comfort dish is easy to prepare and perfect for weeknights, family gatherings, or make-ahead meals.
There’s something about a warm baked pasta that draws people to the table, and this baked ziti delivers on flavor and convenience. It has many of the same cozy elements as lasagna—hearty meat sauce, tender pasta, and gooey cheese—but with much less fuss. You can assemble it ahead of time and bake it when you’re ready to serve, or double the sauce and freeze extras to ladle over spaghetti another night.
This dish is versatile, making it a great choice for casual dinners, brunches, birthday gatherings, showers, or even events where you want to keep food warm in the oven while you take care of other things.
Below is a straightforward method that yields a rich, flavorful meat sauce and a cheesy baked pasta everyone will enjoy. Try it out and leave a comment if you make it!
How to Make Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce
Start by preparing the meat sauce. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until no pink remains. Stir in diced onion and cook until softened. Add minced garlic, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper and cook for another minute to release the aromatics.
Pour in canned tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes, bring to a low simmer, then reduce the heat and allow the sauce to gently simmer for at least 30 minutes. Simmering concentrates the flavors, so if you have the time, let it cook longer for a deeper taste.
When the sauce is nearly ready, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook your tube-shaped pasta—ziti, penne, or rigatoni—until it is just shy of al dente (about two minutes less than package directions). Drain the pasta and combine it in a large bowl with the meat sauce, grated Parmesan, and most of the shredded mozzarella. Stir gently to combine, then transfer the mixture to a large casserole dish or a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
Top the pasta with the remaining mozzarella, cover with foil, and bake for about 30 minutes, until bubbling. For a golden, slightly crisp top, remove the foil and broil 2–3 minutes, watching carefully so it doesn’t burn. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
Simple and comforting, this baked ziti is crowd-pleasing and easy to scale for larger groups. It reheats well and can be made a day ahead—just add 10–20 minutes to the baking time if baking from chilled.
Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce
Easy to make, this classic Italian recipe is the ultimate dinner comfort food.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup diced onion (about ½ an onion)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 28-ounce can tomato sauce
- 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 pound penne (or ziti or rigatoni)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and crumble as it cooks until no longer pink. Add the diced onion and cook about 5 minutes, until softened. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and cook 1–2 minutes.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes, bring to a low simmer, then cover and simmer for 30 minutes to develop flavor.
- While the sauce simmers, preheat the oven to 375°F. Cook the penne until about 2 minutes shy of the package time so it remains very al dente. Drain the pasta.
- In a large bowl, combine the drained pasta, meat sauce, Parmesan, and 1½ cups of the mozzarella. Toss to combine, then transfer to a casserole dish or 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup mozzarella over the top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly. If desired, remove the foil and broil 2–3 minutes to brown the top slightly. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
This recipe can be assembled up to a day in advance and refrigerated until ready to bake. If baking from chilled, add 10–20 minutes to the baking time to ensure it is heated through.
Nutrition
Calories: 481 kcal per serving.
