Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Italian Sausage Recipe

When you’re craving the comfort of homemade Italian food but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen, this baked ziti delivers all the satisfaction of lasagna with half the effort. This hearty casserole combines tender ziti pasta with a rich meat sauce featuring both ground beef and Italian sausage, layered with creamy ricotta and topped with melted Italian cheese.

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Why This Recipe Works

The magic of this baked ziti lies in its perfectly balanced layers. The combination of ground beef and Italian sausage creates a complex, savory meat sauce with depth of flavor that surpasses single-meat versions. Mixing the cooked pasta with eggs, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese before layering helps bind everything together while preventing the pasta from becoming mushy. The ricotta adds creamy richness, while the Italian cheese blend creates that irresistible golden, bubbly top.

Baked ziti recipe ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

• Ziti pasta – Tube-shaped pasta that holds sauce beautifully and creates perfect bite-sized portions
• Ground beef chuck – Provides rich, beefy flavor and hearty texture to the meat sauce
• Italian sausage – Adds aromatic herbs and spices that elevate the overall flavor profile
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper – Essential seasonings that enhance all other flavors
• Bacon – Contributes smoky depth and additional richness to the meat mixture
• Onion – Forms the aromatic base and adds natural sweetness to the sauce
• Mushrooms – Provide earthy umami flavor and meaty texture
• Italian seasoning – A Blend of herbs that gives authentic Italian flavor
• Red pepper flakes – Adds gentle heat and complexity
• Olive oil – Helps bind the pasta mixture and adds Mediterranean flavor
• Eggs – Create structure and help hold the pasta layers together
• Parmesan cheese – Sharp, nutty flavor that complements the other cheeses
• Pasta sauce – Forms the saucy base that ties all components together
• Ricotta cheese – Provides creamy, mild flavor and luxurious texture
• Shredded Italian blend cheese – Melts beautifully to create the golden, bubbly top

What can I substitute for ricotta cheese in baked ziti?

This recipe is for baked ziti with ricotta. Ricotta cheese is a traditional component of baked ziti, but it can get dry and grainy when baked. You can substitute heavy cream for added richness. You can also substitute it with cottage cheese or blend cottage cheese with an egg until smooth.

How to Make Baked Ziti

1. Sauté the ground beef, Italian sausage, and bacon in a pan over medium-high heat.
2. Season the meat with salt and pepper.
3. While the meat is cooking, chop the onion and mushrooms and add them to the pan.
4. Add Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes to the meat. Stir to combine.

5. When the meat has browned, remove it from the pan and drain off any excess grease if necessary.
6. Cook the ziti according to package directions.
7. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water once the ziti has finished cooking.
8. Drain the pasta and place it into a large bowl.
9. Add olive oil, eggs, and Parmesan cheese to the ziti. Stir to combine.

10. Place pasta sauce and pasta water into a separate large bowl and stir to combine.
11. Ladle just enough sauce to cover the bottom of a 13×9-inch baking dish.
12. Add half of the cooked ziti to the dish.
13. Place dollops of ricotta cheese on top of the ziti.

14. Spoon half of the meat over the ricotta cheese.
15. Sprinkle half of the shredded Italian blend cheese on top.
16. Pour enough sauce into the dish to cover the meat.
17. Place the remaining pasta on top.
18. Place the remaining meat on the pasta.
19. Sprinkle the remaining Italian cheese on top.
20. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Recipe tips for the cook

• You can use ziti or any short-length tube-shaped pasta like rigatoni or penne in this easy-baked ziti recipe.

• Boil the ziti noodles in salted water until very al dente. The pasta will continue to cook in the oven, so you want to undercook it somewhat.

• Many grocery stores sell Italian sausage in bulk, which consists of ground sausage minus the casings. If you can’t find it, you can ask your butcher to remove the meat from the casings or do it yourself. The easiest way (although a bit messy) to remove the meat is to cut the sausage link in half and then squeeze out the meat. 

• Use a potato masher to crumble the sausage easily.

• If you want a meat layer with more kick, go for Italian hot sausage.

• If you’re a vegetarian family, consider leaving out the ground beef and try Beyond Meat Italian Sausage instead.

• Do you bake ziti covered or uncovered? Bake it uncovered at 350°F for about 25 minutes or until the cheese is melty and gooey. 

• Baked ziti is very flexible. You can add vegetables like green pepper and zucchini, or any leftover veggies you were wondering what to do with.

What can you serve with this easy baked ziti recipe?

This hearty pasta bake makes a fabulous meal with a simple green salad and crusty garlic bread. Other good sides are roasted broccoli, green beans, and roasted asparagus.

Storage & reheating instructions

• Refrigerator Storage – Cover and store assembled casserole for up to 2 days before baking, or store leftovers for up to 4 days
• Reheating Method – Reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-30 minutes until heated through, or microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes
• Freezing – Freeze unbaked casserole for up to 3 months, thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours before baking with extended time

Love pasta? Try these recipes!

• Capellini Pomodoro
• Egg Pasta Recipe
• Homemade Alfredo
• Pasta con Broccoli
• Pasta with Red Clam Sauce
• Shrimp Pasta with White Wine Sauce
• Suddenly Pasta Salad

Favorite Casserole Recipes

• Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole
• Chili Relleno Casserole
• Hashbrown Casserole Cracker Barrel
• Sausage Casserole Recipe
• Spaghetti Casserole
• Taco Cornbread Casserole

Check out more of my easy pasta recipes and the best casserole recipes here on CopyKat!