Cheesy Baked Ziti
From the I Heart Naptime Cookbook
Servings 8
Equipment
- 1 9x13 baking pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti or penne pasta
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup yellow onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 can (15oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 jar (26oz) jar marinara sauce
- 2 - 4 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tsp kosher salt (or to taste)
- 2 tsp fresh oregano
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups fresh mozzarella cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to package directions, until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside for now.
- In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic to the oil and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the onion is tender. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, and drain any excess fat from the pan.
- Stir in the tomatoes, marinara sauce, basil, salt, oregano, and pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Add the sour cream and cooked pasta to the pan, and stir until combined. At this point you can taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
- Transfer half the mixture to the greased baking dish, and sprinkle 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese on top. Pour the remaining mixture on top of the cheese, and add the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella. Finally, sprinkle the Parmesan over the top.
- Place the dish in your preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and golden. Top with fresh, sliced basil, if desired, and serve warm.