EASY BAKED ZITI CASSEROLE
This easy baked ziti is a huge family favorite. Creamy, cheesy alfredo pasta topped with a beefy spaghetti sauce! Then topped with melted cheese!
HOW-TO VIDEO INCLUDED BELOW
CAN I USE ANY KIND OF PASTA FOR BAKED ZITI?
I like the Penne pasta because it has those little ridges in it. And those little ridges are really good at hanging onto the pasta sauce. But if you prefer the Ziti pasta, then use that instead of the Penne. Or maybe you are able to find the Ziti with ridges in your local supermarket, then you could use that as well. This recipe is versatile and you can use almost any other pasta noodle you prefer.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
ground beef
spaghetti sauce*
alfredo sauce
penne pasta (or ziti or rigatoni)
yellow onion
shredded mozzarella cheese
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE BAKED ZITI:
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE BAKED ZITI:Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Prepare pasta according to directions. In a medium sauce pan, brown ground beef with onion (if using.) After beef is browned and crumbled, drain excess grease. Put back in pot and pour in one jar of spaghetti sauce. Keep mixture on low until pasta is done. When pasta is finished, drain well. You want the pasta as dry as possible. Put pasta back in large pot (with heat off) and pour in jar of alfredo sauce. Combine until thoroughly coated.
Pour pasta mixture into bottom of 9×13 dish.
Cover pasta with spaghetti sauce mixture.
Sprinkle top with mozzarella cheese.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. I like to spray the inside of my foil with nonstick spray so the cheese doesn’t stick to it. Or you could use nonstick aluminum foil.
Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let rest for about 5 minutes after taking out of oven.
*Cook’s Notes: When I make this, I usually purchase an extra can of spaghetti sauce so we can pour extra sauce over the top when serving.
Enjoy!
EASY BAKED ZITI
This easy baked ziti is a huge family favorite. Creamy, cheesy alfredo pasta topped with a beefy spaghetti sauce! Then topped with melted cheese!
Print Pin RatePrep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 368kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 (32 oz) jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
- 1 (16 oz) jar alfredo sauce
- 1 lb penne pasta (or ziti or rigatoni)
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Prepare pasta according to directions.
- In a medium sauce pan, brown ground beef with onion (if using).
- After beef is brown and crumbled, drain excess grease.
- Put back in pot and pour in one jar of spaghetti sauce.
- Keep mixture on low until pasta is done.
- When pasta is finished, drain excess water from pasta. You want the pasta as dry as possible.
- Put pasta back in large pot (with heat off) and pour in jar of alfredo sauce. Combine until thoroughly coated.
- Pour pasta mixture into bottom of 9 x 13 dish.
- Cover pasta with spaghetti sauce mixture.
- Don’t put the pot that you used for the spaghetti sauce in with the dirty dishes yet. Keep that pot out and start heating up second jar of spaghetti sauce on low heat. Put a cover on it to keep warm until ziti is finished baking.
- Sprinkle top with mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let rest for about 5 minutes after taking out of oven.
- Serve portions onto plates, and pour some of the heated spaghetti sauce on top.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 368kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 287mg | Potassium: 317mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 5% | Vitamin C: 0.8% | Calcium: 20.5% | Iron: 15.7%
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Elena says
Can you leave meat out?
Maria says
Not bad for an easy bake ziti recipe. I mix Italian sausage into the meat mix. Going to keep this recipe in my rotation.
Sue says
Made this recipe once before and it was so delicious. Making again this week. Everyone loves it, made exactly as you posted.
Thank you for this amazing recipe.
Sonya says
Hello this recipe looks so yummy. I was wondering do you use any spices . Thanks…. I was going to make this tonight. I can’t wait to try!!!!
Bethany says
We have had this several times now, and absolutely love it! I’ve switched the ground beef to a pound of ground Italian sausage, and added fresh sliced mushrooms on top of the pasta before pouring the spaghetti sauce on! Yum! This is a definite keeper! Thanks for sharing!
Sherri says
Brilliant idea to use Alfredo. Makes it so creamy. I have made so many ziti recipes and they always turn out dry. I also have never thought to use extra sauce for the top. Great idea. This will definitely be a regular on my menu. Delicious!
Christine says
How many servings do you get? I’m having 6 adults. And 3 very young kids. They love ziti and I want to make enough.
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Hi Christine, I responded to the email you sent me. 🙂
Catt says
Can I double this recipe to have some to freeze? If so is it just doubling all ingredients?
Kelly says
Made this last night for dinner and I have a picky crowd. My family doesn’t like to try new things as I do. I made it axacly the same that shows in picture besides added more spaghetti sauce based on other comments which I think it needed and did 1/2 ground beef and 1/2 spicy Italian sausage. I was a big hit! Definitely a keeper. Thank you it was was delicious!