My baked ziti with ground beef is one of those miracle dinners that materializes from seemingly nothing. That’s why I love baked ziti—It’s a completely hands-off pasta dish once it goes in the oven.
Made with tender ziti noodles, hearty ground beef marinara, and two layers of cheese, my homemade version of the baked pasta is made without ricotta cheese, but does include chopped pancetta which adds great depth of flavor. This recipe yields 10 servings, making it the perfect hearty meal for feeing a crowd.
This dinner is one of my family’s favorite comfort meals. The first time I made this recipe was seven years ago when my mom was visiting from Brazil. We had a busy day out with my son (who was 2 at the time), and I came home exhausted.
I wanted a quick and easy dinner. I already had my homemade meat sauce ready. So all I needed to do was cook some pasta and put it in a casserole. That’s why I love baked ziti with ground beef—It’s a completely hands-off pasta dish once it goes in the oven.
My mom absolutely loved it and even asked for the recipe. Mission accomplished—everyone enjoyed it! While it baked, I made a simple arugula salad, warmed some garlic bread, and dinner was ready.
Here’s What You’ll Need
Baked ziti is a comfort food that you can toss together with just a few staples.
Made with tender ziti noodles, hearty ground beef marinara, and two layers of cheese, my homemade version of the baked pasta is made without ricotta cheese, but does include chopped pancetta which adds great depth of flavor. This recipe yields 10 servings, making it the perfect hearty meal for feeing a crowd.
It’s one of those dinners that you can throw together no matter what you have on hand and it’ll be delicious.
First, Let’s Prep The Ingredients
Step One: Cook your pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until it’s just al dente. Then drain and set it aside for now.
Step Two: We’ll cook the pancetta and ground beef in the same skillet over medium high heat. So, once the pancetta is crispy, remove it and cook the ground beef.
Step Three: Remove any excess grease before adding the chopped onion to the skillet. Once they’re soft, stir in the garlic, basil, and seasonings, and cook for another minute or two.
Step Four: Add your marinara or tomato sauce to the skillet and stir it all together. Season to taste with salt and pepper and let everything simmer for a
few minutes to build flavor.
How To Assemble Baked Ziti with Ground Beef
First: Combine the cooked pasta, meat marinara sauce, and pancetta in a large mixing bowl, then place half of it in a greased casserole dish.
Next: Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese in an even layer over the pasta.
Then: Add the rest of the pasta and meat sauce to the baking dish and top it with an even layer of the cheese that we reserved.
Finally: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake it for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake it for 10 more minutes until the cheese is bubbly.
Easy Swaps And Variations
I know ziti is in the name, but penne pasta works just as well here. I go with the kind that has ridges so the sauce really sticks to it.
When it comes to the red sauce, the options are endless! You can keep it simple by using your favorite jarred pasta sauce or get creative with your own homemade version.
If you want a leaner protein, the sauce is just as good with ground turkey. My Italian sausage tomato sauce also works really well here, especially if you like a little spice.
How To Store & Reheat Leftover
To Store: Baked ziti with ground beef stores and reheats like a dream. Once it cools, cover the baking dish tightly with foil. You can also put it in an airtight container. Store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To Freeze: You can also freeze baked Ziti for up to 3 months. If you’re making it specifically to freeze, I recommend using an aluminum pan. This way, you can thaw it in the fridge overnight and pop it right in the oven.
To reheat: Just cover your pan with foil and place in the oven at 350°F until it’s warmed through. If you’re heating a small amount of this pasta recipe, the microwave will do just fine!
Baked Ziti With Ground Beef
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Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti or penne pasta
- Kosher salt
- ½ cup chopped Pancetta
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage (removed from casings)
- 1 cup white onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 cups jarred marinara or pasta sauce or make your own tomato sauce
- Black pepper to taste
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 cup grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti or penne pasta until al dente, according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the pancetta over medium heat until crispy. Remove and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet. Add the ground beef or sausage to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Remove any excess grease.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, fresh basil, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes, cooking for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Pour the marinara or tomato sauce into the skillet and stir to combine. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer for 5-7 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, prepared sauce, and crispy pancetta. Toss well to coat.
- Distribute half of the pasta blend into the baking dish you've prepared. Scatter half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan cheese over the pasta. Add the remaining pasta mixture on top, followed by the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the baked ziti rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional fresh basil or grated cheese if desired. Enjoy!
Tips
- Be careful not to overcook the pasta because it’ll continue to cook in the oven. Boil it until it’s just al dente, then drain and set it aside.
- Seasoning each layer of the dish (salting the pasta water, seasoning the meat and sauce) helps build the best flavor.
- If your pasta mixture seems dry, stir in a bit more sauce before you bake it.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
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