Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce

Ingredients

– **For the Pasta:**
– 1 pound ziti or rigatoni pasta
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 teaspoon salt (for pasta water)

– **For the Meat Sauce:**

– 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
– 1 small onion, diced
– 3 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
– 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
– 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
– Salt and pepper to taste

– **For the Cheese Mixture:**

– 1 cup ricotta cheese
– 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
– 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
– 1 egg
– 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (plus extra for garnish)

– **For Topping:**
– 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
– 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. **Cook the Pasta:**
– Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
– Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and toss with olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.

2. **Prepare the Meat Sauce:**
– In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef or sausage until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if necessary.
– Add the diced onion and garlic to the skillet and cook until the onion is translucent.
– Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer for about 15 minutes to thicken.

3. **Mix the Cheese Mixture:**
– In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, and chopped parsley. Mix until well blended.

4. **Assemble the Dish:**
– In a large baking dish, spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom.
– Layer half of the cooked pasta over the sauce.
– Spread half of the cheese mixture over the pasta.
– Pour half of the remaining meat sauce over the cheese layer.
– Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta, cheese mixture, and meat sauce.

5. **Add Toppings:**
– Sprinkle the top with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese.

6. **Bake:**
– Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
– Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

7. **Serve:**
– Garnish with extra chopped parsley before serving. Enjoy your delicious baked ziti!

This hearty dish is perfect for a family meal or any gathering where you want to serve something comforting and satisfying.