Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (1 pound) ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage (optional)
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (14 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
Cook the Ziti:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the ziti pasta and cook it until it's just slightly undercooked (about 2 minutes less than the package instructions).
- Drain the pasta and set it aside.
Prepare the Sauce:
- In a large skillet or saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 3-5 minutes until it becomes translucent.
- If you're using ground beef or sausage, add it to the skillet and cook until browned. Break it apart with a spoon as it cooks.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
- Simmer the sauce for about 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Layer the Casserole:
- Spread a small amount of the tomato sauce in the bottom of the greased baking dish.
- Layer half of the cooked ziti pasta over the sauce.
- Dollop half of the ricotta cheese over the pasta.
- Sprinkle half of the grated Parmesan cheese and half of the shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Pour half of the remaining tomato sauce over the cheese.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta, ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, and sauce.
Bake:
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Broil (Optional):
- If you want to achieve a golden, crispy top, remove the foil and broil the baked ziti for an additional 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Garnish and Serve:
- Remove the baked ziti from the oven.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley, if desired.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Enjoy your homemade baked ziti, a comforting and cheesy Italian-American classic that's perfect for family gatherings and weeknight dinners.