Easy Baked Ziti is one of my most requested dishes at family gatherings, and I’m so happy to share it with you today. This hearty, comforting pasta bake comes together beautifully with just a little love and patience in the kitchen.
What makes this recipe truly special is the combination of tender pork sausage and beef mixed right into the sauce, along with creamy ricotta and melty mozzarella that creates such a rich, satisfying dish. The layers of flavor build as everything bakes together, making every bite taste like it came from a real Italian kitchen.
I’ve been making this for my family for years, and it never fails to bring everyone to the table with smiles on their faces. It’s perfect for feeding a crowd, and there’s something so wonderful about serving a big, bubbling dish that shows you’ve put real care into the meal.
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Easy Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 1 pound Pork Sausage
- 1 pound Beef
- 0.16666666666667 ounce Noodles
- 45 ounce Pasta
- 0.2 ounce Ricotta
- 2 cup Mozzarella
Instructions
- Remove sausage from the casings (slide a sharp knife down the center of each sausage and then using your hands just push the meat out from the casing).
- Discard the casing.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Combine the sausage and ground beef in a pan.
- Cook over medium heat until browned, continually breaking up the meat and mixing it together.
- Cook your pasta according to the directions on the box to make it al dente.
- (It is very important not to overcook as you will continue baking it in the oven later.)
- Pour your sauce into a large bowl or pot.
- Add the ricotta cheese and mix it in completely with the sauce.
- Next, add half of the mozzarella cheese to the sauce.
- Save the other 1 cup for later.
- Add your meat and pasta into the sauce and cheese.
- Mix well.
- Pour your pasta into a casserole dish.
- Use a large pan if cooking the entire amount.
- Or split into two smaller (1 1/2 quart) pans to cook one meal now and freeze the other one for later.
- Sprinkle the remaining half of the mozzarella cheese on the top of the ziti.
- If using two casserole dishes, sprinkle half on one dish and half on the other.
- Cover your dish with foil.
- Bake in a 350 degrees F oven for 35 to 45 minutes, until the entire dish is hot and the cheese has completely melted on top.
