Baked Ziti
Super cheesy with a nice bold flavor, this Baked Ziti is comfort food to the max! It’s a great casserole recipe that everyone will love!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Passive Time10 minutes mins
Servings: 8
Author: Francine Lizotte
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Fusion, Italian
Keyword Beef, Casserole, Comfort Food, Easy Recipe, Pasta, Pork, Weeknight Recipes, Winter Recipe
- 2 tbsp. olive oil tips & tricks
- 2 cups yellow onions, chopped
- 4 large cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 lb. hot Italian sausage, casings removed see Recipe
- 1 tsp. ground Himalayan pink salt
- 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper (I always use mixed peppercorns)
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 3 cups (22 oz.) marinara sauce see Recipe
- 1 jar (680 ml.) Passata Rustica
- 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 tbsp. Italian seasoning see Recipe
- 1 lb. (16 oz.) ziti (substitute rigatoni or penne rigate), cooked minus 2 minutes
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 large free-range egg, beaten
- 2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped and divided tips & tricks
- 2 cups Fontina cheese, grated
- 2 cups Grana Padano cheese, grated
In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add oil and when it starts shimmering, add onions; sauté until translucent, about 2 ½ to 3 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
Add ground beef and Italian sausage; season with salt and pepper. Cook until no longer pink, breaking into small pieces, 5 to 6 minutes. Add red wine and cook until liquid is reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add marinara sauce and passata; rinse jar with beef broth. Season with Italian seasoning, stir well, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 30 minutes; taste and adjust seasonings. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, beaten egg and 1 tbsp. chopped parsley. Stir to blend and set aside. Preheat oven to 375ºF and grease a 5-quart baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
Remove the sauce from the heat and add cooked pasta; stir well. Transfer half the mixture to the prepared baking dish and level it out.
Spoon half ricotta mixture and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle on ¾ cup Fontina cheese and ¾ cup Grana Padano cheese.
Add the remaining pasta mixture and repeat the same steps; ricotta, Fontina and Grana Padano.
Cover loosely with foil and transfer to the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes before removing the foil.
Turn the broiler on “low” and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.
Remove from the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes before sprinkling on the remaining 1 tbsp. chopped parsley.