Mama's Baked Ziti: A Layered Italian Comfort Classic

EAT

ANNA'S KITCHEN

Mama's Baked Ziti: A Layered Italian Comfort Classic

Name: Baked Ziti: A Rich, Classic Italian Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 3 lbs ground beef; 1 lb ground pork; 1 onion, finely diced; 3 carrots, finely diced; 3 celery stalks, finely diced; 5 sprigs parsley, chopped; 8 oz red wine; 32 oz homemade tomato sauce; 6 oz tomato paste; 1.5 lbs rigatoni pasta; 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or more if desired); 15 oz ricotta cheese; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 4 tablespoons olive oil; Salt and pepper, to taste

With rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella, it’s a dish made for sharing and savoring.

By Anna Prezio

@thatladyanna

December 28, 2024

By Anna Prezio

Ingredients

3

lbs ground beef
1

lb ground pork
1

onion, finely diced
3

carrots, finely diced
3

celery stalks, finely diced
5

sprigs parsley, chopped
8

oz red wine
32

oz homemade tomato sauce
6

oz tomato paste
1.5

lbs rigatoni pasta
3

cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or more if desired)
15

oz ricotta cheese
1/4

cup grated Parmesan cheese
4

tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

TOTAL TIME

1 hour

8 servings

There’s nothing quite like the aroma of Mama’s baked ziti filling the kitchen. A dish made with love and generations of tradition. Each layer tells a story: the rich, slow-simmered meat sauce, brimming with tender ground beef and pork, perfectly complements the al dente rigatoni that soaks up every bit of flavor. Creamy dollops of ricotta and the gooey, golden mozzarella topping create a harmony of textures that’s simply irresistible.

The richness of this dish depends on your olive oil — our guide to single-origin vs. blended olive oil explains why the source matters for Italian cooking. For more Italian comfort food, also explore baked eggplant in tomato sauce with feta or learn about cooking vs. finishing olive oil to get the most out of every dish.

An older woman in a red apron smiles while holding a large baking dish of baked pasta with tomato sauce in a kitchen. She uses a red checkered towel to handle the hot dish.

Make the Meat Sauce

For the Meat Sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and parsley. Sauté until softened, about 10–15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

A kitchen counter with bowls of ricotta, chopped beef, shredded cheese, parsley, celery, seasonings, olive oil, pasta, tomato sauce, and a glass of red wine, with a Gratsi wine box in the background.

Brown the Meat

Add the ground beef and pork to the pot. Season again with salt and pepper, and cook over medium-low heat until browned, about 20 minutes.

A person holds a spoonful of chunky tomato sauce above a red pot on a stove. Kitchen items, including a yellow lemonade pitcher and olive oil bottle, are visible on the white countertop in the background.

Deglaze with Wine

Stir in the Gratsi Red, allowing it to evaporate.

Add Tomato & Simmer

Add the tomato sauce and tomato paste, mixing well. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Cook the Pasta

Cook the rigatoni until al dente according to the package instructions. Drain and return to the pot. Mix in about 3 cups of the prepared meat sauce.

Layer the Baking Dish

In a large baking dish, begin layering the ingredients:

• Start with a layer of meat sauce.

• Add a layer of pasta.

• Add dollops of ricotta cheese, a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella, and a touch of Parmesan.

• Repeat the layers until the dish is full, finishing with a top layer of mozzarella cheese.

A person in a vegetable-patterned apron ladles meat sauce over pasta in a large metal baking dish, preparing a baked pasta dish with visible ground meat, sauce, rigatoni, and melted cheese. Steam rises from the hot food.

A person wearing a vegetable-patterned apron sprinkles cheese over a baking dish filled with rigatoni pasta, meat sauce, and dollops of ricotta cheese in a kitchen.

Cover & Bake

Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap, then foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

Uncover & Brown

Remove the foil and plastic wrap, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbly.

Rest & Serve

Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

A hand grates parmesan cheese over a serving of baked pasta with meat sauce on a white plate with a red rim, set on a wooden surface.

The market

Red Wine

$39

White Wine

$39

Rosé Wine

$39