Baked Ziti Recipe

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I was in the mood for pasta, and not just any old pasta, I wanted a warm, baked pasta with delicious melted cheese in every bite! My baked Ziti is loaded with ground beef, spinach, onions, tomatoes and is all baked to a golden perfection with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. It has finally been cooling down here in southern California and I have to admit, I am more than happy to welcome the cooler weather! So, I am ready to crank on my oven and cook all the delicious baked dishes I try to avoid in the summer! I hope you all enjoy and thank you for stopping by!

• 1/2 lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb. ziti pasta
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced
• 2 roma tomatoes, diced
• 2 cup spinach, stems removed
• 1/2 lg. onion, chopped
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup mozzarella, grated
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

1. In a cast iron skillet (or an oven safe skillet), over medium heat, add olive oil, ground beef, onion, celery, salt and pepper. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until beef is browned and veggies are soft.
2. Add diced tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, garlic, basil, and oregano. Cover and continue to cook over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are soft. Add two cups of spinach and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, covered, until spinach is cooked down.
3. Add tomato sauce, parmesan cheese, crushed red peppers and stir to combine. Cover and cook for 15 more minutes to let the flavors develop into the sauce.
4. While the pasta sauce is cooking, cook ziti pasta according to package instructions for “al dente”.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
6. Toss cooked ziti into your finished sauce and stir to combine. Top with grated mozzarella cheese.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes, until top is nice and golden. Then remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Enjoy!

For more delicious recipes like my Baked Ziti, view all of my pasta recipes here.

Baked Ziti

Amanda Cooks & Styles

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Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Ingredients

  

• 1/2 lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb. ziti pasta
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 cup celery thinly sliced
• 2 roma tomatoes diced
• 2 cup spinach stems removed
• 1/2 lg. onion chopped
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup mozzarella grated
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated

Instructions

 

Directions:

• In a cast iron skillet (or an oven safe skillet), over medium heat, add olive oil, ground beef, onion, celery, salt and pepper. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until beef is browned and veggies are soft.
• Add diced tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, garlic, basil, and oregano. Cover and continue to cook over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are soft. Add two cups of spinach and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, covered, until spinach is cooked down.
• Add tomato sauce, parmesan cheese, crushed red peppers and stir to combine. Cover and cook for 15 more minutes to let the flavors develop into the sauce.
• While the pasta sauce is cooking, cook ziti pasta according to package instructions for "al dente".
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Toss cooked ziti into your finished sauce and stir to combine. Top with grated mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes, until top is nice and golden. Then remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Enjoy!

Keyword baked ziti, pasta