If you like Lasagna, you’ll like this dish. It’s basically a Lasagna with Ziti noodles. The only real difference is that for lasagna, I add an egg and parsley to the ricotta before making but this is so simple an great for a quick meal that can feed the whole family!

There are also many different recipes and approaches to baked ziti but frankly, this is hard to screw up. It’s probably one of the most simple and straight forward one dish meals you can and all you need is a nice salad and garlic bread to make it a full meal!

Ingredients:

1.25 lbs ground beef

1/2 medium onion chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

12 cups tomato sauce (see sauce recipe sundaywithachance of meatballs https://sundaywithachanceofmeatballs.com/2014/03/01/meatballs-and-spaghetti-sauce/) or a jar of your favorite sauce will do!

2 Lb Ziti

2 Tbls whipping cream

1 Tbls grated parmesan cheese

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp onion powder

15 oz Ricotta

2 cups mozzarella

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Brown the ground beef in a skillet and add onion and garlic and continue to cook until the onions are soft.

Add 3 cups of sauce to the beef mixture with 1 tsp garlic powder and onion powder and cook for another 5 mins. Set aside.

Boil the Ziti based on package instructions but stop short by about 1 minute so the noodles aren’t completely cooked (Al Dente). They will continue to cook in the oven.

In a large mixing bowl add the ricotta, 2 tbls whipping cream, 1 tbls parmesan cheese and 1 tsp garlic powder and onion powder and pinch of salt and pepper. Stir briefly.

Add 4 cups of sauce and incorporate.

Add the meat mixture and cooked Ziti to the mixing bowl and mix until ziti is covered in sauce.

Spray a lasagna pan with cooking spray and pour the Ziti mixture into the pan and cover with 5 cups of sauce and top with 2 cups mozzarella cheese.

Bake in 350 degree oven uncovered for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Visit http://www.sundaywithachanceofmeatballs.com for more great recipes!!

Ciao, Mike!