Description
Killer Baked Ziti Recipe is an easy, crowd‑pleasing Italian casserole featuring al dente ziti, rich marinara, creamy ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and smoky smoked beef. Perfect for busy families, this 6‑serving bake delivers melty cheese, hearty protein, and comforting pasta texture in under an hour, making it a go‑to comfort food for weeknight dinners or weekend gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
-
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound smoked beef
- cooked and crumbled
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
-
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ziti until al dente, drain.
- In a large bowl combine pasta, marinara, ricotta, half mozzarella, smoked beef, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper.
- Transfer mixture to greased 9×13‑inch baking dish, top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes.
- Remove foil, bake additional 15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Let rest 5‑10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra depth, add a splash of grape juice to the marinara. The dish can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated before baking. Leftovers freeze well
- reheat covered at 350°F for 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Killer Baked Ziti Recipe, baked ziti recipe, easy pasta bake, Italian casserole, comfort food dinner, quick weeknight meals, family pasta recipes, cheesy baked pasta, smoked beef pasta, oven baked pasta, hearty Italian bake