This baked ziti is the perfect comfort meal for any weeknight or weekend dinner! Ground beef, Italian sausage, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, mozzarella, parmesan, ricotta, and plenty of spices and herbs. This dish comes together quickly, toss everything into a baking dish and bake until bubbly. Serve family style along with some warm crusty bread, even batter, this dish makes great leftovers!
Using diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano in this baked ziti adds even more delicious flavor!
Ziti noodles tossed in a three cheese mix topped with plenty of hearty sauce!
If you like this baked ziti, you’ll love these other dinner ideas…
Copycat Zoe’s Kitchen Pasta Salad Recipe
Creamy Smothered Cajun Chicken Recipe with Pasta
Sbarro Mama’s Meatball Recipe with Spaghetti & Sauce
BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado & Mozzarella
One-Pan Butternut Squash Risotto
Grocery List:
- Olive Oil
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ground Beef
- Italian Sausage
- Crushed Tomatoes
- Diced Tomatoes
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Ricotta Cheese
- Eggs
- Salt & Pepper
- Italian Seasoning
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Fresh Basil
- Fresh Parsley
- Ziti Noodles
Why use Award Winning Red Gold Tomatoes?
High quality ingredients make all the difference, you don’t have to give up quality for convenience! By using Red Gold crushed and diced tomatoes in this baked ziti you can be sure you are using ingredients you can trust. Located at most grocery store chains, Red Gold Tomatoes are easy to find and budget friendly.
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375° F. Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and sauté until softened, several minutes.
Add sausage and ground beef, cook until browned. Drain off excess fat.
Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, basil, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes; stir to combine. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. After the cook time remove 3 to 4 cups of the sauce to a bowl to cool down.
In a separate bowl combine ricotta cheese, 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, salt, and black pepper. Stir together but do not mix completely. Add the pasta and toss slightly to combine. Mix in cooled meat sauce and toss to combine.
Add half of the coated pasta to a 9×13 inch baking dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, and then top with half the remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat with another layer of coated pasta, sauce and cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbling. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle parsley over pasta before serving.
Baked Ziti
Equipment
- 9 x 13 baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce package ziti pasta, cooked and drained
- 2 tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 large Onion, diced
- 1 pound Ground Italian sausage
- 1 pound Lean ground beef
- 2 15 ounce cans Red Gold® Crushed Tomatoes 15 oz
- or
- 1 28 ounce can Red Gold® Crushed Tomatoes 28 oz
- 2 14.5 ounce cans Red Gold® Diced Tomatoes Basil, Garlic & Oregano 14.5 oz
- 1 tbsp Chopped fresh basil
- 2 tbsps Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Red pepper flakes
- 1 15 ounce carton low fat ricotta cheese
- 3 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 Egg, beaten
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh minced parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and sauté until softened, several minutes.
- Add sausage and ground beef, cook until browned. Drain off excess fat.
- Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, basil, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes; stir to combine. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. After the cook time remove 3 to 4 cups of the sauce to a bowl to cool down.
- In a separate bowl combine ricotta cheese, 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, salt, and black pepper. Stir together but do not mix completely. Add the pasta and toss slightly to combine. Add cooled meat sauce and toss to combine.
- Add half of the coated pasta to a 9×13 inch baking dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, and then top with half the remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat with another layer of coated pasta, sauce and cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbling. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle parsley over pasta before serving.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @theheartylife on Instagram and hashtag it #theheartylife.
This post is sponsored by Red Gold Tomatoes