Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain off excess grease and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta for about 4 minutes less than the package instructions. The pasta should be quite al dente since it finishes cooking in the oven. Drain well.
- Add the drained pasta and cooked ground beef to a large pot or mixing bowl.
- Pour in the pasta sauce and stir to combine.
- Add the red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir thoroughly so everything is evenly seasoned.
- Spread half of the pasta mixture into the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 baking dish, pressing gently into an even layer.
- Sprinkle over half of the parmesan cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese.
- Add the remaining pasta mixture, then top with the rest of the parmesan and mozzarella.
- Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 35 to 40 minutes until hot, bubbly, and lightly browned on top. Serve warm.
Notes
- This is intentionally a simple, budget focused baked ziti.
- Slightly undercooked pasta prevents mushy texture after baking.
- You can stretch the meat further by adding finely diced vegetables.
Storage
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze baked portions for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and reheat covered.
How to Make This a Freezer Meal
- Assemble the baked ziti fully but do not bake it.
- Wrap the dish tightly in plastic wrap, then cover with foil. Label with the date and baking instructions.
- Freeze for up to 2 months.
- Thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before baking.
- Bake at 375°F for 40 to 45 minutes total. Cover with foil for the first 25 minutes to prevent over-browning, then remove the foil and bake uncovered until hot, bubbly, and lightly golden on top.
Related Recipes
- Check out all our other Pasta Recipes!
- See all our the Casserole Recipes!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.