Deluxe Baked Ziti
Baked ziti doesn’t have to be drab and ordinary! This casserole recipe proves it! This casserole has a very interesting topping and that’s what makes it totally awesome.
Servings: 6
Calories: 738kcal
Ingredients
- 8 oz ziti uncooked or any similar shaped tubular pasta
- 2 cups mozzarella cut in small cubes (about 1/4-inch)
- 1/4 cup Parmesan or Romano cheese
- 1 lb ground beef browned and drained
Topping:
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
- 1/4 cup Romano cheese
- 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
Sauce:
- 28 oz can petit diced tomatoes
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1 small onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbs dried basil
- 1 tbs dried oregano
- 2 tbs brown sugar see NOTES
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbs olive oil
Instructions
- Sauce—In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until aromatic—about 3 minutes. stir in the tomato paste and cook until tomato paste bubbles and it’s color gets a bit darker, about 5 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Cook pasta per package directions; drain.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
- Mix pasta, sauce, ground beef, cubed mozzarella and Romano cheese in a large bowl; blend well. Turn mixture into prepared pan.
- Place the topping ingredients evenly over the top of the casserole. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, or until cheeses begin to brown and top is crispy.
Notes
If you like a less sweet sauce, omit the sugar.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 738kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 2239mg | Potassium: 1311mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 1530IU | Vitamin C: 25.2mg | Calcium: 602mg | Iron: 6.6mg