This easy Baked Ziti is loaded with tender pasta, a hearty beef and Italian sausage marinara, creamy ricotta, Parmesan and plenty of melted mozzarella. Everything gets layered together and baked until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese on top is golden and gooey. It’s classic comfort food and an easy dinner when you need something that will feed the whole family.

Baked pasta is one of those meals that always sounds good when you want something warm and filling without spending all night in the kitchen. I love using both ground beef and Italian sausage in this one because you get that extra flavor from the sausage without it taking over the whole dish. Add some garlic bread and a simple salad and dinner is done.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ziti pasta
• ½ lb ground Italian sausage
• ½ lb ground beef
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 32 oz marinara sauce
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 (15 oz) container whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook the ziti in salted water until just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Add the Italian sausage, ground beef and onion to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until the meat is browned and the onion is tender, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
3. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Reserve ½ cup of the marinara sauce, then add the remaining marinara to the skillet along with the Italian seasoning, garlic powder and crushed red pepper flakes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
4. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, Parmesan and 1 cup of the mozzarella.
5. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread the reserved ½ cup marinara over the bottom. Toss the cooked ziti with about half of the meat sauce.
6. Add half of the ziti to the baking dish. Spoon the ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta, followed by some of the remaining meat sauce. Add the remaining ziti and finish with the remaining meat sauce.
7. Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups mozzarella evenly over the top. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes at the end if you want the mozzarella lightly browned.
8. Let the baked ziti rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan if desired.