Ziti Lasagna is pretty much exactly how it sounds…lasagna using ziti noodles. It’s the best of both worlds. You get all the cheesy, gooey, comforting flavors of lasagna without the fuss and frustration of noodles tearing halfway through layering the dish. This meal is so easy to prepare, fantastic for feeding a crowd, and is freezer-friendly. Make a few and store in the freezer for a quick dinner later!
I love that this meal is highly versatile. It can be prepared with ground beef, sausage, ground pork, a combination of those, or no meat at all. The pasta sauce can vary greatly as well. You may use store bought tomato sauce dressed up with your own seasonings, jar marinara sauce, or make your own homemade tomato sauce.
Ziti Lasagna Key Ingredients
Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients that comprise this delicious dish.
Ziti
I prefer to use Ziti noodles but any pasta can work in a pinch. Feel free to use what you have on hand. I’ve made this with ziti rigatoni, rigatoni, penne, and corkscrew pastas.
Olive Oil
Extra-virgin olive oil is the best oil to use for this recipe. It is used to sauté the onion and garlic.
Onion
I prefer to use a yellow onion for this dish. Yellow onions are considered all-purpose onions because they work well in most dishes.
Garlic
This recipe calls for garlic cloves but if you do not have them on hand, it is fine to use minced garlic.
Pasta Sauce
Pasta sauce is such a personal preference, whether it be store bought or homemade, and is a strong flavor profile for this meal. It is important to use a kind that you really like.
Meat
Ground beef, ground pork, and sausage all work well in this recipe. Feel free to mix them or remove the meat completely!
Ricotta Cheese
For best flavor and texture, be sure to use whole milk ricotta cheese.
Mozzarella Cheese
I typically use shredded whole milk low-moisture mozzarella cheese.
Parmesan Cheese
Grated parmesan cheese is perfect for this dish.
Egg
Egg helps to bind the cheese so that it doesn’t spread out uncontrollably when cut. Keep your cheese in check, egg.
Italian Seasoning
Italian seasoning lends the perfect blend of herbs for this recipe. If you do not have it on hand, you can use equal parts dried (not ground) basil, rosemary, sage, thyme, and oregano.
Ziti Lasagna Process
This recipe is not difficult at all. We have detailed instructions in the recipe below but here are the general steps and some tips.
- Make the meat sauce – In a large pot, we sauté the onion and garlic. Then, add the ground beef (or meat of your choice) and cook until browned. Drain off most of the grease, leaving just a little behind in the pot. (To do this, use a spatula to push the meat mixture to the side of the pot. Tilt the pot so the grease collects in one spot. Using a spoon, scoop out the grease and place in a cup filled with some paper towels to absorb it. Throw away the paper towels/grease after it has hardened.) Pour the marinara sauce into the pot and stir in salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes, if using. Let simmer for 25 minutes, then remove from heat to cool down.
Saute onion and garlic, Cook meat sauce - Mix cheeses – In a large bowl, we mix together ricotta cheese, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and egg.
- Cook ziti – Cook ziti al dente, rinse with cold water, and then mix with 2 cups of the meat sauce.
- Assemble and bake – In a 13×9 dish, spread a thin layer of meat sauce. Layer half of the coated pasta on top, then half of the ricotta cheese mixture, half of the remaining meat sauce, and then half the remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat with remaining pasta, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until top is lightly browned and sauce is bubbly. Let sit for 10 minutes prior to serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or basil.
Spread meat sauce on bottom of pan, Layer Ziti Lasagna Continue layering Ziti Lasagna and finish with mozzarella cheese
Can I make Ziti Lasagna ahead of time?
Yes! This dish can be prepared ahead of time. Assemble the ziti lasagna and cover with aluminum foil PRIOR to baking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Bake as instructed, adding about 10-15 minutes more to the baking time.
Can I freeze the Ziti Lasagna after being baked?
Absolutely! Make sure your ziti lasagna has cooled completely after baking. Cover freezer-safe dish with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Label with name of the dish, date prepared, and reheating instructions. Freeze for up to 2 months.
When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. After thawed, remove plastic wrap and replace the foil. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until heated through. You can remove the foil for the last 5-10 minutes, if preferred. Alternatively, you may bake from frozen at 350 degrees F for 55-60 minutes (be sure to remove plastic wrap and replace foil – you may remove foil for last 5-10 minutes).
Tips
- Al dente pasta – We cook the pasta al dente in this recipe. This means that the pasta is tender enough to chew but still has a slight bite to it. Most pastas will include the al dente cooking time on their box but if they do not, it is generally 2 minutes less than the full cooking time.
- Draining grease – Draining the grease off the meat after it is cooked can be a little tricky. I found the best way to do this is to use a spatula to push the meat mixture to the side of the pot and then tilt the pot so the grease collects in one spot. Using a spoon, scoop out the grease and place in a cup filled with some paper towels to absorb it. Throw away the paper towels and grease after it has hardened.
My Preferred Tools
You may already have many of these items in your kitchen. I recommend the following for this recipe:
- Baking dish – 13×9 baking dish
- Large pot – to cook pasta
- Strainer – to strain pasta
Ziti Lasagna
Ziti Lasagna has the cheesy flavors of lasagna without the fuss. It is easy to prepare, great for feeding a crowd, and freezer-friendly!
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef, sausage, or ground pork
- 2 jars (24 oz) marinara (pasta) sauce
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- 15 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 lb ziti
- Fresh parsley or basil to garnish, chopped (optional)
Directions
- Step 1 In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. When oil is heated through, add onion and garlic, sauteing until onions are slightly softened. Add ground beef (or meat of your choice) and cook until browned. Drain off most of the grease, leaving just a little behind in the pot. (See tip in post above.) Pour the marinara sauce into the pot and stir in salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes, if using. Let simmer for 25 minutes, then remove from heat to cool down.
- Step 2 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and egg. Set aside.
- Step 3 Cook ziti in salted water until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and place in a large bowl. Add about 2 cups of the marinara meat sauce to the ziti. Stir to coat.
- Step 4 In a 13×9 dish, spread a thin layer of meat sauce. Layer half of the coated pasta on top, then half of the ricotta cheese mixture, half of the remaining meat sauce, and then half the remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat with remaining pasta, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until top is lightly browned and sauce is bubbly. Let sit for 10 minutes prior to serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or basil.
- Step 5 STORAGE: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
- Step 6 FREEZING: Make sure your ziti lasagna has cooled completely after baking. Cover freezer-safe dish with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Label with name of the dish, date prepared, and reheating instructions. Freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. After thawed, remove plastic wrap and replace the foil. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until heated through. You can remove the foil for the last 5-10 minutes, if preferred. Alternatively, you may bake from frozen at 350 degrees F for 55-60 minutes (be sure to remove plastic wrap and replace foil – you may remove foil for last 5-10 minutes).
- Step 7 MAKE AHEAD: This dish can be prepared ahead of time. Assemble ziti lasagna and cover with aluminum foil PRIOR to baking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Bake as instructed adding about 10-15 minutes more to the baking time.
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