Made with tender ziti noodles, hearty ground beef marinara, and two layers of cheese, my baked ziti with ground beef 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 feeding a crowd.
Olivia’s Personal Note
This dinner is one of my family’s favorite comfort meals. The first time I made this baked ziti 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 in the fridge. 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! She said it tastes just like lasagna but with way less effort and of course, she asked me for the recipe right away.
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 8-10 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 red sauce, the options are endless! You can keep it simple with your favorite store-bought pasta sauce or get creative and make your own homemade version, even add a splash of heavy cream for richness.
Baked Ziti With Ground Beef
Equipment
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 Parmesan or pecorino cheese grated
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!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?
Follow @primaverakitchen on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #primaverakitchen. We’d love to see your recreation.
This dish was a hit with my family. It’s delicious! I added extra cheese for our taste.
I’m so glad your family loved it! Extra cheese sounds like a delicious addition—great choice! 🧀😊
Can you make ahead?
Yes! Assemble it ahead, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Bake when ready, adding a few extra minutes if cold. You can also freeze it before baking. 😊
How many does this feed?
Between 8 to 10 people!
Thank you! Delicious!
You’re so welcome!
I do not have ziti noodles in my pantry. Am I able to substitute Penne Rigate noodles?
I typically follow recipes for the first time without any substitutions, but this sounded so good I want to make it without needing to buy one ingredient.
Thanks
Yes you absolutely can replace Ziti for Penne noodles. Please let me know hoe it turned out for you 😉
How long do you need to bake it if you freeze unbaked?
If you’re baking from frozen without thawing, increase the covered baking time to about 45-50 minutes and then uncover and bake another 20-25 minutes (or until fully heated through and bubbly).
Dearest Olivia
Another excellent and delicious recipe. Will be making this for the adult grandkids
who voraciously eat the food I cook using your endless recipes.
A heartfelt thank you.
Thank you so much for your sweet message. I’m so happy you’re enjoying the recipes and cooking them for your grandkids — that truly means a lot to me.