Taste absolute comfort on a plate with Easy Baked Ziti, where homemade bolognese sauce intertwines with layers of gooey mozzarella and provolone cheeses and creamy sour cream. Easier to make than lasagna, but with the same amazing flavor, this dish comes together fast and will surely be at the top of your family’s favorite meals!
What Goes Into Easy Baked Ziti?
- Ziti pasta
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ground beef
- Italian seasoning
- Spaghetti sauce
- Provolone cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Sour cream
- Parmesan cheese
How Long Does It Take To Make Baked Ziti?
It will take you about an hour (including 30 mins baking time) to make this amazing dish if you follow these simple steps:
- Make the sauce: brown the meat with the onions and garlic in a large skillet or Dutch oven until fully cooked. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Pour in the spaghetti sauce, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 mis.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil while the sauce is simmering, and cook the ziti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Add the layers as follows:
– half of the ziti pasta
– top the pasta with the provolone slices
– spread the sour cream over the provolone slices
– spoon half of the meat sauce over the sour cream
– top the meat sauce with the remaining ziti
– sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the ziti
– cover the ziti with the remaining meat sauce
– add the parmesan cheese evenly over the meat sauce - Bake for 30 minutes or until all the cheeses are melted and bubbly.
What Other Pasta Shape Can I Use Instead Of Ziti?
If you can’t find ziti, you can use penne or rigatoni pasta.
Baked Ziti Variations:
- Use Italian sausage instead of ground beef
- Add chopped spinach to the meat sauce
- Instead of sour cream, use ricotta cheese
- Use Alfredo sauce for a white baked ziti
- Ground turkey or chicken have less calories if you are counting them
Other Baked Pasta Recipes For You:
- Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake
- Homemade Chicken Spaghetti
- Creamy Crack Chicken Lasagna with Bacon and Ranch
- Easy Homemade Lasagna
Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
Easier to make than lasagna, but with the same amazing flavor, this dish comes together fast!
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Servings: 8
Calories: 681kcal
Ingredients
- 16 oz ziti pasta
- ½ cup onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2- 24 oz jars spaghetti sauce
- 8 slices provolone cheese
- 1 ½ cups sour cream
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded or grated
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Make the sauce: brown the meat with the onions and garlic in a large skillet or Dutch oven until fully cooked. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Pour in the spaghetti sauce, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 mis.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil while the sauce is simmering, and cook the ziti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F and spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Add the layers as follows: - half of the ziti pasta - top the pasta with the provolone slices - spread the sour cream over the provolone slices - spoon half of the meat sauce over the sour cream - top the meat sauce with the remaining ziti - sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the ziti - cover the ziti with the remaining meat sauce - add the parmesan cheese evenly over the meat sauce
- Bake for 30 minutes or until all the cheeses are melted and bubbly.
Notes
- If you can’t find lean ground beef, drain the fat after cooking it for a lower calorie dish.
- Do not overcook the ziti. Cook it al dente. Remember it will continue cooking in the oven.
- If you can, shred your own cheeses, they will melt better than pre-shredded cheese.
Nutrition
Calories: 681kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 34g
