This easy baked ziti with ground beef is a classic comfort food dish that you’ll want to make again and again. With a rich meat sauce, tender pasta, and a blend of melted cheeses, this luscious pasta bake will quickly become a family favorite. Perfect for any night of the week, it’s simple to prepare and absolutely delicious.
How to Prepare Baked Ziti with Ground Beef
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Cook the Meat Mixture: In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the diced onion and crushed garlic in the oil until softened. Add the ground beef and cook until it’s no longer pink. Drain any excess fat, then return to the stove.
- Season the Meat: Add the ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, ground black pepper, dried oregano, and salt to taste. Mix well to combine.
- Prepare the Sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce and chicken broth, stirring to combine. Cook until the mixture is hot and bubbly. Remove from heat.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Stir about 1.5 cups of the meat sauce into the cooked and drained ziti pasta.
- Assemble the Dish: Spread half of the pasta mixture in the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish. Top with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Add the remaining meat sauce, then the rest of the pasta.
- First Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Add More Cheese: Uncover the dish and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella and ½ cup of Parmesan cheese on top. Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Baked Ziti with Ground Beef Recipe
Dive into the ultimate comfort food with our easy baked ziti with ground beef. This rich, cheesy pasta bake is perfect for weeknight dinners and sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 1.5 lb ground beef
- ½ teaspoon cardamom ground
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ground
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1.5 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt to taste
- 1 29 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cup broth I’ve used chicken.
- 1 16oz package Ziti pasta , cooked and drained.
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Cook the Meat Mixture: In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the diced onion and crushed garlic in oil until softened. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
- Season the Meat: Add ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, ground black pepper, dried oregano, and salt to taste. Mix well.
- Prepare the Sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce and chicken broth. Stir to combine and cook until the sauce is hot and bubbly. Remove from heat.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Stir about 1.5 cups of the meat sauce into the cooked and drained ziti pasta.
- Assemble the Dish: Spread half of the pasta mixture in the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish. Top with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Add the remaining meat sauce, then the rest of the pasta.
- First Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Add More Cheese: Uncover the dish and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella and ½ cup of Parmesan cheese on top. Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
How to Store Baked Ziti with Ground Beef
To store leftover baked ziti, let it cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen, then warm in a preheated 350°F oven until heated through.
