Last Updated on October 5, 2024 by Chef Mireille
Classic Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce is a family favorite that is always a hit. Pasta with Creamy Ricotta and Mozzarella baked into a flavorful casserole with a flavorful meat sauce is something that the whole family will love – both the kids and the adults.
This traditional Italian American dish is the perfect example how Italy has put their stamp on American cuisine.
Many cultures when they travel across continents adapt their cuisine to the local flavors and preferences of their new communities. Although the base ingredients used may be the same, methods are changed and new recipes are formed.
What we call Chinese food here in America bares little resemblance to food in China. Italian food is the same. Italian and Irish are the two largest immigrant groups who both came in great waves dating back to the 1800’s.
Most of the Italians came from Sicily and southern Italy. Mostly farmers plagued by poverty, oppressive taxes and foreign misrule, they sought a new life in the new world. Having been here for so long, many of the foods we regard as Italian were developed by these initial Italian immigrants and are uniquely Italian American creations and not traditional Italian foods. Baked Ziti is as American as apple pie.
You ask an American what’s Italian food and besides pizza, the top 3 dishes that people will name are lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs & baked ziti. However, these dishes are not as popular in Italy and you would have to search far and wide until you find a restaurant that caters to American palates to find these dishes.
Baked Ziti is a truly traditional American dish of Italian origin and here is my version.
Before we get to this Italian American dish, let’s try some traditional Italian and Italian American foods!
Italian Recipes
How to Make Baked Ziti
Cheesy and luscious…the perfect comfort food for the winter season!
Baked Ziti
Ingredients
Meat Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion small dice
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lb. ground beef
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 24 oz. jar of pasta sauce
- 1/3 cup Red wine
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup finely chopped parsley
Pasta Ingredients
- 1 lb. ziti
- 15 oz. Ricotta cheese
- 1 lb. grated mozzarella cheese
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan or Romano
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- Boil ziti in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente, according to package instructions.
- Run with cold water immediately after cooking and toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a deep skillet. Add onion and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes, until translucent.
- Add meat and cook until meat is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Add pasta sauce. Pour 1/3 cup water into the pasta jar and swish it around. Pour it into the skillet with the wine. Stir to combine.
- Add basil, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Add fresh parsley and stir to combine. Adjust salt and pepper, as necessary.
- While meat is simmering, combine 2 cups of the mozzarella, ricotta and heavy cream in a bowl and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
- Add meat sauce and cheese combination to cooked ziti and mix well until thoroughly combined.
- Transfer to a 9×12 baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and asiago cheese on top. Press down to make sure casserole is well compacted.
- Transfer to oven and bake for 30 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
Don’t forget to visit the RECIPE INDEX with over 1000 recipes from around the world including lots of Vegetarian Recipes and Gluten Free Recipes!
This is so true with so many cuisines right! I always believe, more than the traditions, which is important, its how a dish gets liked and then adapted is more important..:).. I will love this one for sure!
Especially with a city as diverse as NYC we are influenced by so many cultures
I completely agree. My husband visited Europe once and he mentioned that the pizza there doesn’t match the ones here in US… Love this baked pasta and all your shares this week.
I agree Srividhya. Our friends who have lived in Italy swear that the ‘Italian’ food we get here has very little resemblance to the food in Italy 🙂
That said, Mir this baked pasta will definitely be loved at home.
Mouth watering looking at the pic. very detailed writeup… Loved it.
It’s a very rich dish but worth it for a treat
Wow, this dish is definitely a prefect meal for cold weather days, am in love with this dish as its too cheesy.
great write up there, Mir ! and loved the baked dish.. time consuming but yes definitely worth the effort 🙂
it is a definite comfort food dish so yes worth the effort
Baked ziti looks so delicious and a perfect dish to have anytime a day. The pizza or Italian we get here is totally different from what we were getting in the states? I guess even the same cuisine changes in different countries
yes the only truly Italian cuisine you will get is in Italy as the cuisines will always change incorporating local flavors and preferences
True words about cuisines adapted across various cultures! I remember a funny scene from a Hindi movie called Queen, where the heroine cooks a toast completely burnt and call itnindian style French toast ?! Baked ziti looks hearty!
Ha ha that sounds like a funny scene
Wonderful read ! It’s amazing the way the diverse cuisines have so much similarity . Every country adapts to it’s own version . Pizza here tastes so different than what we had in Italy !
Ziti looks like a wholesome cheesy meal , great efforts .
Yes I think its the quality of the cheese in India not to mention the spiced up versions you guys have 🙂
Mir I love the info you give in your posts. As for the baked ziti I am sure hubby will be the first one to like it and ask me why I make so little of all that is good.