I know it’s quite a claim to call this Best-Ever Baked Ziti recipe the best ever, but wait until you try this Best-Ever Baked Ziti. One bite, and we’re pretty sure you’ll agree.
This truly is the Best-Ever Baked Ziti recipe!!
Though the history of baked ziti goes back for generations and generations, this recipe delivers that authentic Italian taste the we all love so much!
Watch us show you how to make what we believe truly is the Best-Ever Baked Ziti!
You can do it! Watch, laugh…and get ready to make the Best-Ever Baked Ziti recipe!
Of course, the sum of this dish is greater than it’s parts. But…the parts are pretty amazing, too. And that starts with a robust, deeply flavorful meat sauce. You can easily make the marinara sauce several days in advance.
In fact, you can make it weeks in advance because it freezes beautifully! Mmmmm…meat sauce.
Using top quality ingredients is key to making this the best-ever baked ziti recipe, as well. Seek out top-quality ricotta cheese and mozzarella.
We just can’t stress this enough. This dish serves a nice-sized gathering of friends and family.
We love to serve this with our Classic Caesar Salad and our Fantastic Focaccia with Rosemary and Olive Oil.
OTHER AMAZING BAKED DISHES TO TRY
Rustic Bolognese Lasagna
Spinach and Cheese Cannelloni
Best-Ever Eggplant Parmesan
Macaroni and Cheese with Roasted Cauliflower
Baked Eggplant Involtini
But folks, in the meantime, check out this incredible baked ziti!
Give this dish the kind of love you would your best friends and closest relatives, and the love it gives you back in return will make your heart sing!
Ah…this incredible dish really is simply the BEST!
EXPERT TIP: You can make the meat sauce up to 1 week in advance. You can assemble the dish up to 2 days in advance. Bring to room temperature before baking, or just add an additional 15 minutes if chilled, and an additional 40 minutes if frozen!
Now, make this Best-Ever Baked Zite recipe! You can make this up to 2 weeks in advance and freeze. Let thaw before baking.
Enjoy!
Best-Ever Baked Ziti
Ingredients
MAKE AHEAD
- fresh marinara sauce or quality store-bought
FOR THE MEAT SAUCE
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped (about 1/2 cup)
- 2 celery stalks chopped (about 1/2 cup)
- 1 large carrot peeled and chopped (about 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 lb sweet Italian sausage casings removed
- 1/2 lb hot Italian sausage casings removed
- 1 lb ground beef
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 5 cups fresh marinara sauce click for recipe
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
FOR THE BAKED ZITI
- 16 oz quality ricotta cheese
- 16 oz quality mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese finely shredded
- 1 lb dried ziti
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
MAKE THE MEAT SAUCE
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the onion, celery and carrot and cook until soft, about 7 - 10 minutes.
- Crumble the sausage with your hands into the pot and then add the beef. Cook until almost no longer pink.
- Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, each.
- At this point, if too much grease has rendered, you can drain it off.
- Add the wine and cook until liquid is almost all gone, about 4 - 5 minutes.
- Add the prepared marinara and tomato paste and simmer for 1 hour.
- Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Set aside until ready to assemble dish.
ASSEMBLE AND BAKE THE ZITI
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the ziti according to package instructions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large baking dish (a lasagna dish/pan works well), ladle a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the dish.
- Add a layer of cooked ziti.
- Top with dollops of ricotta and then about 3/4 cup of mozzarella.
- Sprinkle about 1/4 cup of Parmesan on top of that.
- Repeat this process again.
- Top with a handful of pasta, then another layer of the sauce, a 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, and another 1/4 of Parmesan on top.
- Baked, uncovered, for 45 to 50 minutes, until lightly browned on top and bubbly.
- Garnish with chopped parsley.
You added milk? Don’t see that. I didn’t. Everything ready, waiting for pasta to cook. Let you know if the completed project is as wonderful as the marinara and meat sauce. Love that the marinara recipe size is good for second casserole.
Keep thinking about milk.
Oh my! Great flavor. Next time I’m going to check at 40 minutes for my oven. At 45 minutes it’s a delicious chew in the corners. Truly a scrumptious ziti.
I am thinking about making this to take to a Thanksgiving gathering. Usually I make macaroni and cheese, but was considering doing something different this year. What are the dimensions of the “large baking dish?”
Hi Chris, any dish ranging from 9×13 or a size larger will work. As Joe mentioned, a little extra depth is nice to have. There’s really not a science to this dish, regarding layering. We just layer the pasta, cheese, and sauce until the dish is filled then add another layer of shredded mozzarella on top. Depending on the size of your dish, you may have a little extra pasta or sauce, which is great to have on the side! Hope this helps and Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you. So far, so good. I made the marinara this evening and plan to make the meat sauce tomorrow evening. Then, I will put everything together and probably bake it Thanksgiving morning. Thank you for sharing the recipe! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Awesome!! Have a wonderful day!!!
I made your recipe tonight for Best-Ever Baked Ziti. It was outstanding!!! Seriously the best I have ever made, I did make my own sauce but made this exactly as your recipe. For sure will be making this many more times. Thank You, Carol
I forgot to give it 5 stars 😉
THANK YOU!!!!!
Carol! That’s so awesome to hear! We love baked ziti, it’s so comforting and yummy. And so glad you made the sauce! We think it’s what makes the ziti so special. And thank you so much for letting us know and for the great review! We always appreciate that so very, very much! All the best!!! Kris & Wesley
It should be a lasagna pan. 9×13 is large enough, but it needs to be at least 3 inches deep. Most 9×13 pans are only 2 inches deep. The depth is more important than the other dimensions. Since I don’t have a lasagna pan, I use three 9×4 loaf pans. That gives me the depth, and I can freeze some for later.
My whole family loved your Best ever Ziti bake recipe. I substitute the ground beef for ground turkey.
P. S. You both are so cute!
Hi Renée! That is so wonderful to hear!! That’s a big win pleasing the whole family and we are so very happy you all enjoyed the recipe! That is a family favorite in our house, for sure!! (Making a big batch tonight for an extended family getaway this weekend, in fact!). And thank you so much for letting us know. That means so very much to us!! Please stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Hi My name is Maureen and Love this recipe!being Italian this recipe is the best way to make baked ziti! Ty for sharing it!!
Was outstanding thanks for sharing. Everyone loved it.
That is so great to hear, Pam!! And thank you so much for letting us know, we truly appreciate it!! Stay in touch!! Best, Kris & Wesley
I love to cook and combed the Internet for a really good ziti recipe and stumbled onto your site. First of all, your video is hilarious. The ingredient list had my mouth watering and The marinara sauce IS to die for. I made it for Super Bowl Sunday and it truly is the best ever baked ziti and I will never try any other recipe. Can’t wait to make it again and try some of your other dishes. I love it when a recipe does not disappoint! Wish you both continued success in the culinary world!
Hi Nancy!! Thank you for making our day, weekend…heck, our month!! We are SO thrilled that you had success with the baked ziti! We absolutely love it, too, and it’s always so great to serve to a gathering of loved ones!! And thank you so very much for taking the time to let us know. That means the world to us. Please stay in touch!!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
I’m trying this recipe for the men and women working at our local fire department on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day(including my son-in-law)! So far it smells delicious! I will let you know their response!!
Hi Katie!! So sorry for the delayed response!! We are so glad you made this ziti. It’s one of our all-time favorite dishes. How did it turn out? Hope you all enjoyed it!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Ha. This recipe is delicious, but it doesn’t say where to add the ricotta, so I forgot. I bet it would be even better with it!
#6 in “Assemble and Bake the Ziti” section
Where’s the GARLIC…..?
I’m looking forward to trying this recipe! Can you substitute with Ground Turkey and Turkey sausages?
Absolutely! I’ve done that before, and it’s still really, really good. Let us know how it turns out, Venessa!! Best, Kris & Wesley
This sounds delicious! I love baked ziti!
Who Let the Mum Out?
Thanks! It’s pretty tasty!!