Easy Baked Ziti

This easy baked ziti recipe is a huge family favorite. Creamy, cheesy alfredo pasta topped with a beefy spaghetti sauce! Topped with melted cheese!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 35

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 368kcal

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
Prepare 1 pound penne pasta according to directions until al dente.
In a medium sauce pan, brown and crumble 1 pound ground beef with ½ yellow onion, diced. Once cooked, drain any excess grease and put back into pan.
Put back in pot and pour in 24 ounce jar of your favorite pasta sauce. Keep mixture on low heat until pasta is done.
When pasta is finished, drain well. You want the pasta as dry as possible.
Put pasta back into the large pot (with heat off) and pour in 16 ounce jar garlic alfredo sauce. Combine until thoroughly coated.
Pour pasta mixture into bottom of the 9x13-inch baking dish.
Cover pasta with pasta sauce mixture. Spread evenly.
Sprinkle top evenly with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover with nonstick 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. Optional: sprinkle the top with a little dried parsley.
Serve portions onto plates, and pour additional pasta sauce on top (optional)

Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
If you like your baked ziti extra saucy, pick up an extra jar of pasta sauce. Warm it up and use it to add additional sauce to individual servings.
Feel free to add one diced green pepper and 2 cloves minced garlic to the ground beef an onion mixture.