Baked Ziti with Meatballs
Baked Ziti with Meatballs is loaded with marinara sauce, three cheeses, and the best homemade meatball recipe you've ever tasted!
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 45 min
- Yield
- 12 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 pound ground beef ((85% lean))
- 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 small onion ((diced))
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese ((freshly grated))
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ((dried))
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 large egg ((beaten))
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil ((extra virgin))
- 1 pound ziti pasta ((boiled and drained))
- 48 ounces pasta sauce ((any brand))
- 16 ounces parmesan cheese, shredded ((divided in half))
- 16 ounces ricotta cheese ((whole milk))
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ((dried))
- 1 large egg ((beaten))
- 16 ounces mozzarella cheese ((shredded))
Instructions
- 1
Combine bread crumbs, ground beef, diced onion, garlic powder, freshly grated parmesan, dried Italian seasoning and salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- 2
Add beaten egg and using your hands, combine with meatball mixture until fully incorporated. Scoop out mixture with a medium 1.5 inch scooper and roll into balls.
- 3
Place meatballs in a skillet with olive oil on medium high heat. Brown on both sides (about 3 minutes), then remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm until time to assemble ziti.
- 4
Cook the pasta per the package directions in quarts of salted water until it is al dente.
- 5
Drain cooked ziti and place in a large bowl covered with plastic wrap until ready to assemble.
- 6
Mix half of the shredded parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, and Italian seasoning together in a large bowl with a beaten egg.
- 7
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- 8
In a large 13-inch baking dish or aluminum pan, add a little sauce on the bottom to keep pasta from sticking.
- 9
Alternate layers of ziti noodles, sauce, mozzarella cheese, then cheese mixture.
- 10
Repeat until you almost reach the top of the pan. Leave 1 inch for meatballs.
- 11
Transfer meatballs on top of cheese and press down into noodles. Drizzle with sauce. Shake a little dried Italian seasoning on top.
- 12
Sprinkle entire dish with the other half of the shredded parmesan cheese.
- 13
Bake pasta and meatballs in the oven for 45 minutes until golden brown and cheese is melted.