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baked ziti

(1 rating)
deni51 avatar
Recipe by
Denise Dernorsek
@deni51
Belgrade Lakes, ME

I wanted to make something yummy for my sister after her recent shoulder surgery, so I started thinking about some sort of baked pasta dish. I came up with this one and she loved it! It looks like a lot of ingredients, but it comes together really quickly. This recipe will make two 9x13 pans - one to freeze!

(1 rating)
yield 8 serving(s)
prep time 30 Min
cook time 1 Hr 15 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For baked ziti

  • SAUCE
  • 1/4 c
    olive oil, extra virgin
  • 1 md
    sweet onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp
    salt (i use kosher salt)
  • 1 tsp
    black pepper, freshly ground if possible
  • 4 clove
    garlic, finely chopped
  • 4
    anchovies, chopped
  • 28 oz. can
    whole italian tomatoes
  • 2 jar
    classico tomato and basil spaghetti sauce
  • 1 Tbsp
    italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp
    red pepper flakes (more or less, to taste)
  • 1/2 c
    red wine
  • 1 lb
    ground beef
  • 1 lb
    ground pork
  • PASTA
  • 2 lb
    ziti pasta
  • 1 lg
    container whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 10 oz
    frozen chopped spinach, thawed, liquid squeezed out
  • 1 c
    shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp
    salt (i use kosher salt)
  • 2 tsp
    black pepper, freshly ground if possible
  • TOPPING
  • 1 c
    italian cheese blend or shredded parmesan and mozzarella combined

How To Make baked ziti

  • 1
    In a large Dutch oven or saucepan on medium heat, saute the onions, seasoned with salt and pepper, in the olive oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and anchovies and stir until anchovies are broken up and incorporated into the mixture.
  • 2
    Add tomatoes, breaking them up by squeezing or with a wooden spoon. Cook mixture until tomatoes are warmed and then add both jars of spaghetti sauce. Add Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and wine.
  • 3
    Add beef and pork, stirring until meat is broken up and incorporated into sauce. It will break up very finely since it has not been precooked.
  • 4
    Turn heat to med-low and simmer sauce for about 45 min.
  • 5
    While sauce cooks, cook ziti in salted boiling water for about a minute less than package directions for al dente.
  • 6
    Mix ricotta, 1 cup Parmesan, spinach, salt and pepper in large bowl. When ziti is done cooking, drain and add it to the cheese mixture and mix well.
  • 7
    Put about 1 cup sauce in the bottom of each 9x13 pan, divide ziti mixture evenly between pans and top with sauce - about 3 cups, more if you prefer.
  • 8
    Bake in 350 degree oven for 30-35 min., adding cheese topping 10 minutes before baking time is done.
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