When the holiday season is in full swing and you need an incredibly comforting, massive, and highly satisfying dinner to feed a house full of hungry relatives, this Cheesy Baked Ziti is the absolute ultimate dinnertime lifesaver. This breathtakingly gorgeous, bubbling casserole features tender ziti pasta completely smothered in a deeply savory, rich meat sauce, and layered with a highly addictive, creamy ricotta and mozzarella cheese blend.
Finding a brilliant, crowd pleasing holiday dinner that looks elegant enough for Eve but is easy enough to throw together after a long day of wrapping presents can be a massive challenge. If your family is tired of standard holiday ham or turkey, the massive explosion of Italian flavors and gooey, melted cheese in this festive baked pasta will get them sprinting to the table before you even pull it out of the oven.
Whether you need a heavy hitting, a deeply comforting dish to deliver to neighbors during the winter months, this Cheesy Baked Ziti delivers absolute perfection and nostalgic comfort in every single bite.
Why This Pasta Recipe Works So Well
The true brilliance of this mouthwatering baked ziti lies in its magnificent layering technique and its incredibly balanced flavor profile. By combining a robust, savory meat sauce with a rich, sweet, and creamy ricotta cheese filling, you create a perfectly balanced bite every single time. To give it that festive feel, the dish is baked until it is a breathtakingly beautiful golden brown, bubbling with white mozzarella and vibrant red tomato sauce, and garnished with bright green fresh basil or parsley!
Furthermore, this recipe is an absolute champion of convenience. Baked ziti is highly resilient and actually tastes significantly better when prepared ahead of time! The pasta acts like a sponge, soaking up the incredible flavors of the marinara and garlic over time. You can completely assemble this entire massive casserole the day before, pop it in the fridge, and bake it right before your holiday guests arrive, keeping your kitchen completely clean and stress free.
If you absolutely love brilliant, bubbling comfort food that yields restaurant quality results and feeds a massive crowd on a budget, this classic holiday recipe will completely upgrade your December meal rotation!
Essential Ingredients
You only need a few hearty, highly accessible ingredients to pull this magnificent, towering baked pasta together.
For the Meat Sauce:
-
Ground Meat: One pound of ground beef and one pound of mild (or spicy!) Italian sausage. The combination of the two meats provides a deeply savory, highly complex flavor profile.
-
Aromatics: One medium yellow onion, finely diced, and four cloves of freshly minced garlic.
-
Marinara Sauce: Two large jars (about 48 oz total) of your absolute favorite, high quality marinara sauce.
-
Seasonings: One tablespoon of Italian seasoning, half a teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional), and kosher salt and black pepper to taste.
For the Cheesy Pasta Base:
-
Ziti Pasta: One pound of dried ziti pasta. You can also use penne or rigatoni! It is highly essential to boil the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package directions so it doesn’t get mushy in the oven.
-
Ricotta Cheese: One large container (15 oz) of whole milk ricotta cheese for that incredibly creamy, rich middle layer.
-
Mozzarella Cheese: Four cups (one pound) of freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, divided. Shredding it yourself from a block ensures a massive, breathtaking cheese pull!
-
Parmesan Cheese: Half a cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
-
Egg: One large egg, lightly beaten, to bind the ricotta mixture together.
-
Fresh Herbs: Freshly chopped parsley or basil for a gorgeous, festive green garnish.
Step by Step Instructions
-
Cook the Pasta: Bring a massive pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook until very al dente (about 2 minutes shy of the box instructions). Drain completely and set aside.
-
Make the Meat Sauce: In a massive Dutch oven or deep skillet, cook the ground beef, Italian sausage, and diced onion over medium high heat until the meat is deeply browned and no longer pink. Drain any excess grease. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until highly fragrant.
-
Simmer the Sauce: Pour the marinara sauce and Italian seasonings into the meat mixture. Stir well, reduce the heat to low, and let it simmer beautifully for 10 to 15 minutes.
-
Mix the Cheese Filling: In a separate medium bowl, vigorously mix together the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, Parmesan cheese, one cup of the shredded mozzarella, and a pinch of salt and pepper until completely smooth and combined.
-
Assemble the Layers: Spray a massive 9×13 inch baking dish with non stick spray. Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce across the bottom. Add half of the cooked ziti. Top with all of the creamy ricotta mixture, spreading it evenly. Add the remaining ziti, then pour the rest of the hearty meat sauce completely over the top.
-
Bake to Perfection: Sprinkle the remaining 3 cups of mozzarella cheese evenly over the entire casserole. Cover tightly with foil (spray the underside of the foil so the cheese doesn’t stick!) and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is completely melted, bubbling, and deeply golden brown.
-
Garnish and Serve: Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes (highly essential so it holds its shape!), garnish heavily with fresh green parsley or basil for that festive look, and serve piping hot!
Cheesy Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 1 lb dried ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 48 oz marinara sauce
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 15 oz whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a deep 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti for 2 minutes less than the package directions so it remains very al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large Dutch oven or skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, Italian sausage, and diced onion until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer gently for 10 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese until smooth.
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Layer half of the cooked ziti evenly over the sauce.
- Spread the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the pasta layer.
- Top with the remaining ziti, then pour the rest of the meat sauce evenly over the pasta.
- Sprinkle the remaining 3 cups of mozzarella cheese generously over the top.
- Cover tightly with foil sprayed lightly with non-stick spray and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for 15 more minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown.
- Allow the baked ziti to rest for 10 minutes before garnishing with fresh parsley or basil and serving.
Notes
What to Serve With Baked Ziti
Because this baked ziti is incredibly rich, heavy, and deeply comforting, it pairs absolutely beautifully with highly vibrant, fresh, and acidic side salads. Serve this massive pasta bake alongside a gorgeous Sweet Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges or a bright, stunning Strawberry Blueberry Salad to perfectly cut through the heavy cheese and meat sauces!
If you are hosting a fun, casual holiday open house and want to offer a massive spread of savory finger foods alongside your pasta, surround your baked ziti with platters of incredibly addictive White Trash Sliders, a towering plate of Applebee’s Chicken Wonton Tacos, or a deeply comforting pan of Ultimate Cheesy Ground Beef Melt.
Looking to provide options for a massive hungry crowd? Serve this Italian classic next to other hearty comfort foods like a rich Cheddar Bay Hamburger Casserole or a bowl of Simple Mexican Street Corn Salad for a fun, highly flavorful buffet spread!
And of course, no spectacular dinner is ever truly complete without a show stopping, nostalgic dessert! Finish the holiday evening by completely blowing your guests away with a sweet, fluffy Strawberry Crackle Salad!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this baked ziti ahead of time? Absolutely! This is the ultimate make ahead holiday meal. You can assemble the entire casserole, cover it tightly with foil, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before baking. If baking directly from the fridge, you may need to add 10 to 15 extra minutes to the covered baking time to ensure it is hot all the way through.
Can I freeze baked ziti? Yes! Baked ziti freezes beautifully. Assemble the casserole in a freezer safe dish, cover it tightly with a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight before baking as directed.
Do I have to use ricotta cheese? If you or your family members are not fans of ricotta cheese, you can absolutely substitute it with an equal amount of small curd cottage cheese! It provides a very similar creamy texture and melts down beautifully in the oven.