This baked ziti has a sweet, delicious sauce filled with beef, and topped with cheese. It doesn’t take much time or effort to put it together. And, it’ll feed a crowd, which is good, since the taste will bring one!
My best friend Emily and I met when we were 14 years old. When I first met her, I didn’t care for her. But, she wore on me, and by the time we were 15, we were inseparable. Throughout high school we had slumber parties where we would cook. Mostly dessert. And mostly no-bake and chocolate chip cookies. We ruined many of other mamas’ pots. And despite hearing from our mamas about how we were going to die of salmonella, we ate a lot of cookie dough.
Emily and I went to college together, were roommates in the freshman dorms, and then roommates in our first two apartments. During that time, we decided to step up our cooking game. We gathered family recipes, bought cookbooks and kitchen gadgets, and did a lot of cooking for each other and our other roommates.
Emily and I saw each other through many food highs and lows. For example, I once had a recipe from my grandmother for mac & cheese that said “get the largest box of macaroni.” I bought the largest one I could find, which was something like 48 ounces. Looking back, I’m sure my grandmother had meant 16 ounces, so as you can imagine, it was an interesting and confusing dish for everyone.
Emily’s family recipes were always a hit. Especially her spaghetti. So, when she texted me last week and asked if I wanted her ziti recipe, I said “OF COURSE!” She told me that this ziti is her most requested recipe. I made it, ate, and understand why it is requested … it is delicious! It makes a ton, making it perfect for a crowd, it freezes well, and is just pure amazing comfort food.Â
Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 29 oz + 12oz can of tomato sauce
- 12 oz can tomato paste
- 29 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 3/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1.5 tablespoons oregeno
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 pound ground beef
- 16 ounce box ziti
- 8 ounce bag shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 ounce bag shredded Italian cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot on stove over medium heat, stir together tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, garlic powder, salt, pepper, oregano, and sugar.
- Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and allow to simmer for at least 30 minutes.
- In a large skillet, brown beef with salt and pepper to taste. Once cooked through, remove from heat and drain fat.
- Add beef to sauce and allow to simmer for another 20-30 minutes.
- Cook ziti according to package instructions.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove 2 cups of beef sauce from pot and set aside.
- In pot with sauce, stir in ziti, 6 ounces of mozzarella cheese and 6 ounces of Italian cheese.
- Place mixture in 9×13 baking dish.
- Use remaining sauce to cover top of mixture and top with remaining cheeses.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer: All nutritional information provided on this website is an estimate only and is not guaranteed.
If you enjoy this Baked Ziti, you might enjoy these other SugarSpicesLife recipes:
Beef and Sausage Lasagna
Italian Breakfast Casserole
Cheesy Chicken Lasagna
Asiago PDO Skillet Potatoes
Links to items used to make this recipe:
Can I freeze this after baking it off?
Yes, you can! I’ve done it both ways and I do think it tastes a bit better if you freeze it before baking and then thaw & bake it later.
My husband and son don’t like chunks of tomatoes. Is there something I can substitute for the diced tomatoes? They don’t mind crushed tomatoes because the pieces are smaller. Would that work?
Yes that will definitely work!
This is the bomb. The grandkids love it.
I’m so glad, thanks for sharing!
Why such a long simmer with the sauces and paste?
It allows the sauce to thicken and develop the taste. Honestly, I’ve been in a hurry and only done it for maybe 10-15 minutes before, and it’s still good. BUT, I do think the long simmer gives the best taste.
Baked ziti is soo delicious
So glad you like it!
I’m in Australia, what do you mean by ‘Italian cheese’? Thanks.
Hi Heather! I get a bag of store brand or Kraft ‘Italian Cheese Blend’. It’s a bag of shredded cheese and has Mozzarella, Provolone, Parmesan, Romano, Fontina and Asiago. I think any similar blend would work well.
Just made this for my family and our neighbors who just had a baby. So good! Next time I think I will sauté some onions and garlic then add ground beef to that (we love onions and garlic in Italian food) and I would probably reduce the amount of sugar as I like a less sweet sauce. Overall this is a great recipe and I will be making it again!!! I doubled it and I filled a 9×13 and 2 foil pans!
I love the garlic and onion idea! Glad y’all enjoyed it!! Thanks for sharing 🙂