Indulge in a culinary journey with our delectable Baked Ziti Plus extravaganza! This classic Italian casserole gets a delightful makeover with the addition of unique and flavorful twists. Explore a range of tempting Baked Ziti recipes, each promising an unforgettable dining experience. From the classic Baked Ziti with its rich tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese, to the innovative Baked Ziti with Butternut Squash and Pancetta, every recipe is a culinary masterpiece. Discover the secrets behind the perfect Baked Ziti, ensuring a delicious and satisfying meal that will leave your taste buds dancing. Get ready to embark on a tantalizing adventure with our comprehensive Baked Ziti Plus collection, where every bite is a celebration.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
BAKED ZITI I
A lady I worked with brought this in one day, and it was a hit. Now it is the favorite of all my dinner guests. It's great for a covered dish dinner too. I have made this also without the meat, and it is well received.
Provided by Colleen B. Smith
Categories Pasta and Noodles Pasta by Shape Recipes Ziti Recipes
Time 55m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.
- In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 578.2 calories, Carbohydrate 58.4 g, Cholesterol 71.3 mg, Fat 25.3 g, Fiber 6 g, Protein 27.9 g, SaturatedFat 12.7 g, Sodium 913.6 mg, Sugar 14.3 g
THE BEST BAKED ZITI
I am half Italian, was raised eating the finest Italian-American cuisine, and have filmed almost 2000 recipe videos, so when you consider all of those facts, it seems incredible that I have never posted a video for baked ziti. Hopefully I make up for that long wait by posting what I think is the best version of it.
Provided by Chef John
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 2h20m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Cut down the length of each sausage with a sharp knife. Remove and discard casings.
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan set over high heat. Add sausages and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up with a spatula, until the sausage begins to brown, and the onion turns translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add oregano, thyme, and rosemary and cook for 1 minute more. Pour in marinara sauce. Pour 1 cup water into each jar to rinse out remaining sauce; add to the saucepan. Stir together and bring sauce to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, and let simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed. Turn off heat and reserve until needed. Before using, skim any excess fat that rises to the surface.
- While sauce simmers, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 or 2 minutes less than the directions on the package call for, about 8 minutes. Drain well and transfer into a large mixing bowl.
- Carefully add the meat sauce and stir until thoroughly combined. Let rest for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a large 9x15-inch or 9x13-inch casserole dish with a drizzle of olive oil.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer half of the pasta and sauce mixture to the prepared dish, then use a spatula to even out into a uniform layer. Top with 1/2 of the ricotta cheese, 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, and then 1/2 of the grated Pecorino Romano cheese, being sure to distribute evenly. Top with the rest of the pasta and sauce mixture and give the pan a little shake to settle the sauce. Repeat the cheese application.
- Bake in the center of the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and the casserole is piping hot, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Top with parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 627.1 calories, Carbohydrate 58.1 g, Cholesterol 71.8 mg, Fat 29.5 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 30.8 g, SaturatedFat 11.9 g, Sodium 1380.1 mg, Sugar 14.4 g
BAKED ZITI PLUS
Standard baked ziti with sausage, peppers, and onions added to the sauce. There may be more pasta and sauce that cannot fit into the pans. That's ok, it tastes delicious without baking as well!
Provided by Mike Connors
Categories 100+ Pasta and Noodle Recipes Pasta by Shape Recipes Ziti Recipes
Time 4h15m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a stockpot over medium-low heat; cook and stir garlic in the hot oil until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease. Stir ground beef into garlic. Add crushed tomatoes and tomato puree to ground beef mixture; season with salt and pepper. Cover stockpot and simmer mixture, stirring occasionally, until flavors have blended, about 2 hours.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook sausage links in the hot skillet until browned and not longer pink in the center, 10 to 15 minutes; drain and discard grease. Slice sausages into 1/4-inch rounds. Stir sausage, green bell pepper, and onion into the simmering tomato sauce; cook, stirring occasionally until bell pepper and onion are softened, about 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 10 to 11 minutes. Drain and return rigatoni to pot.
- Dice about 3/4 the mozzarella into 1/8-inch cubes. Mix cubed mozzarella with ricotta cheese in a bowl. Stir cheese mixture into cooked rigatoni until mozzarella cheese begins to melt. Pour rigatoni-cheese mixture into 2 large casserole dishes; add tomato-meat sauce. Toss well.
- Slice the remaining mozzarella cheese and arrange on top of rigatoni mixtures.
- Bake in the preheated oven until mozzarella cheese is melted and browned, about 45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 782.5 calories, Carbohydrate 57 g, Cholesterol 117.8 mg, Fat 40.5 g, Fiber 4.3 g, Protein 48.5 g, SaturatedFat 17.5 g, Sodium 1485 mg, Sugar 8.6 g
BAKED ZITI
A quick and easy way to prepare a tasty and filling pasta dish, originally from Mr. Food. Just use your favorite bottled spaghetti sauce. You can use any shape of pasta. I do add more cheese, but I love cheese!
Provided by Junebug
Categories Cheese
Time 35m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Boil ziti, following package directions, drain and place in a large bowl.
- Mix all the ricotta cheese and half of the mozzarella with the ziti.
- Spray a 13x9 pan with Pam.
- Cover the bottom half of the pan with about half the sauce.
- Put the ziti mixture on top of sauce.
- Pour remaining sauce on top of ziti.
- Sprinkle with the parmesan cheese.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes until cheese is melted and it is lightly golden.
BAKED ZITI CASSEROLE
Great ziti dish for any lover of pasta. Easy to make and 'wows' the crowd.
Provided by skentals
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h10m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook ziti in boiling water until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 13 minutes; drain. Rinse ziti with cold water until cool; drain.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Mix ziti, ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, egg, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce into the bottom of a 2 1/2-quart shallow baking dish. Pour ziti mixture into the dish. Top with remaining 1 1/2 cup tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in preheated oven until sauce and cheese layer is bubbly and lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 414.5 calories, Carbohydrate 53.3 g, Cholesterol 59.9 mg, Fat 11.5 g, Fiber 4.1 g, Protein 24.3 g, SaturatedFat 6.4 g, Sodium 1140.7 mg, Sugar 5.6 g
EASY ZITI BAKE
I enjoy making this baked ziti recipe for family and friends. It's easy to prepare, and I like to get creative with the sauce. Sometimes I might add my home-canned tomatoes, mushrooms or vegetables. -Elaine Anderson New Galilee, Pennsylvania
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h5m
Yield 6-8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce. , In a large bowl, combine eggs, ricotta cheese, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese. Drain pasta; add to cheese mixture and stir until blended., Spoon a third of the meat sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; top with half of the pasta mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining meat sauce., Cover and bake 40 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 630 calories, Fat 30g fat (15g saturated fat), Cholesterol 164mg cholesterol, Sodium 878mg sodium, Carbohydrate 45g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 45g protein.
BAKED ZITI
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil, and add ziti. Cook the ziti until just al dente, about 10 to 12 minutes, and drain.
- Meanwhile, bring the marinara sauce to a simmer in a large skillet. Stir in the ricotta and basil leaves.
- Spread 1/2 cup of the sauce in the bottom of a 15-by-10-inch Pyrex baking dish. Layer half of the ziti on top of the sauce. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella cubes and half of the provola. Pour 2 cups of the sauce over the cheese, and spread in an even layer. Top with the rest of the pasta, and spread 2 cups sauce over that layer of pasta. Sprinkle with the remaining cheeses, and dollop with the remaining 1/2 cup of sauce.
- Place the dish in the oven, and bake, uncovered, until browned and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before cutting. (If you want to assemble this ahead, bake for 15 minutes covered with foil, then, when ready to serve, uncover and bake for an additional 20 minutes.)
BAKED ZITI ALFREDO WITH CAJUN CHICKEN
To me this is the ultimate comfort food. The spiciness of the chicken is complemented by the smooth creaminess of the Alfredo sauce. Delicious with a nice glass of white wine.
Provided by Taunte Sara
Categories Pasta Main Dishes
Time 55m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat oil in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add chicken, Cajun seasoning, and salt. Saute until chicken is cooked through and beginning to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Add bell peppers, onion, and 1/2 of the garlic; cook until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring to a simmer.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add remaining garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add flour; cook and stir for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in 1 1/2 cups milk and bring to a gentle boil. Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Add more Parmesan to thicken or more milk to thin to your liking.
- Add cooked pasta to the chicken mixture; toss to coat. Transfer to a deep casserole dish. Pour cheese sauce over the pasta mixture and top with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden and bubbly, about 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 483.8 calories, Carbohydrate 53.1 g, Cholesterol 70.4 mg, Fat 15.4 g, Fiber 3.7 g, Protein 32 g, SaturatedFat 6.8 g, Sodium 790.5 mg, Sugar 7.2 g
Tips for Making the Best Baked Ziti:
- Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh, flavorful ingredients will make all the difference in the taste of your baked ziti. Look for high-quality pasta, cheese, and sauce.
- Cook the pasta al dente: This means cooking the pasta until it is just tender but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked pasta will be mushy and will not hold its shape well in the baked ziti.
- Use a flavorful sauce: The sauce is what really makes baked ziti special. Choose a sauce that is rich, flavorful, and has a good balance of acidity and sweetness.
- Layer the ingredients correctly: When assembling the baked ziti, be sure to layer the ingredients in the correct order. Start with a layer of pasta, then a layer of sauce, then a layer of cheese. Repeat these layers until you have used up all of the ingredients.
- Bake the ziti until it is bubbly and golden brown: The baked ziti is ready when it is bubbly and golden brown on top. This usually takes about 20-30 minutes.
Conclusion:
Baked ziti is a delicious and versatile dish that is perfect for any occasion. With its rich, flavorful sauce, tender pasta, and gooey cheese, it is sure to be a hit with everyone at the table. So next time you are looking for a hearty and satisfying meal, give baked ziti a try. You won't be disappointed!
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