Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Ricotta

For the Meat Sauce:

● 1 lb ground beef

● 1 small onion, diced

● 3 cloves garlic, minced

● 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

● ½ teaspoon salt

● ½ teaspoon black pepper

● 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce

For the Cheese Mixture:

● 1 cup ricotta cheese

● ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

● 1 egg

● 1 teaspoon dried parsley

● 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

● ½ teaspoon dried oregano

I. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

II. Cook the ziti in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.

III. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Add onion and garlic, cooking for 2-3 minutes until softened. Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and marinara sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes.

IV. In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, and dried parsley until well combined.

V. In the baking dish, spread half of the cooked ziti, followed by half of the meat sauce, and then the ricotta mixture. Repeat the layers.

VI. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and dried oregano on top.

VII. Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Calories: ~450 kcal per serving

Servings: 6