Meaty Baked Ziti
- 12 ounces, weight Ziti, Cooked Til Al Dente
- 1/2 pounds Ground Beef
- 2 teaspoons Olive Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Garlic, Minced
- 1/4 whole Onion, Diced
- 1 teaspoon Basil, Ground
- 1 teaspoon Oregano, Ground
- 1 teaspoon Thyme, Ground
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 28 ounces, weight Tomatoes, Crushed
- 1/4 cups Parmesan Cheese, Grated
- 8 ounces, weight Mozzarella Cheese, Shredded, Divided
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare ziti according to directions on the box to achieve al dente doneness (about 10 mintues).
- Cook ground beef until no longer pink; drain and set aside.
- Over medium heat, combine olive oil, garlic, and onion, cooking until onion is translucent.
- Add browned ground beef and all spices.
- Cook 2-3 minutes, then add crushed tomatoes (drain if you prefer a thicker sauce).
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes or until sauce reaches the consistency you prefer.
- In a large casserole dish, stir to combine pasta, sauce, all of the parmesan, and half the mozzarella (alternatively, you could layer the sauce, cheeses, and pasta).
- Top with remaining mozzarella.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly brown.
- Garlic bread and salad are great additions to round out the meal.
- You might also add mushrooms and spinach/fresh basil to the sauce.
- If you like more sauce, you could add marinara when combining/layering in the casserole dish.
weight, ground beef, olive oil, garlic, onion, basil, oregano, thyme, garlic, salt, black pepper, weight tomatoes, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese
Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/meaty-baked-ziti/ (may not work)