CLASSIC BAKED ZITI
| Prep Time: 15 Minutes | Cook Time: 40 Minutes |
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 lb ziti or rigatoni pasta
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1 small red onion diced
- 6 cloves of freshly minced garlic
- 32 oz homemade or canned marinara sauce
- 1 cup fresh parmesan cheese
- 10 oz ricotta cheese
- fresh mozzarella
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- fresh basil for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
1.) Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2.) Bring a pot of water to boil and season with salt.
3.) In a separate pot, drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil to the pot. Add in one small diced red onion and sauté until softened. Add in one teaspoon of red chili flakes and minced garlic. Sauté until softened. Add in the ground beef and cook on medium-low for 20 minutes until cooked through. Once ready, drain the excess fat and set aside.
4.) In a bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, basil, and Italian seasoning together. Season with salt to taste. Set aside.
5.) Boil the pasta until al dente. Once ready, drain the pasta, reserving about 1/4 cup of pasta water. At this point, add homemade or store-bought marinara sauce to the pot. Mix until the sauce is incorporated.
6.) Add non-stick oil to the pan. Pour one layer of pasta on the pan. Then, add a generous helping of ground beef to the pan. Then, add dollops of ricotta mixture to the pan.
7.) Add a second layer of pasta and repeat the process.
8.) Top with a generous helping of fresh mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on the leftover gaps. Drizzle the pan with olive oil.
9.) Cover the pan with aluminum foil. Bake at 375°F until the cheese for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted through.
10.) Garnish with fresh basil, serve and enjoy!
