Homemade Baked Ziti Recipe (with Ground Beef and Sausage)
Homemade baked ziti recipe: ziti pasta is tossed with a hearty tomato sauce made with ground beef, sausage, vegetables, and herbs, then topped with mozzarella and Parmesan and baked until bubbly. In the how-to steps, you’ll see easy tips for keeping the pasta al dente and the sauce nicely thick.
Ingredients
1. For the sauce
2. For the pasta and topping
Step-by-Step Method
Preheat and set up
Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Put a large pot of water on to boil for the pasta while you start the sauce.
Sauté the aromatics
Warm the oil in a large skillet. Cook the onion and green pepper for 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic for 30–60 seconds, just until fragrant.
Cook the mushrooms
Add sliced mushrooms and cook for 3–4 minutes, letting their moisture evaporate so the sauce stays rich, not watery.
Brown the meat
Add ground beef and crumbled sausage. Cook, breaking it up, until no pink remains. Spoon off excess fat if needed.
Build the tomato base
Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the tomato sauce, then add oregano, basil, and bay leaves.
Season and simmer
Mix in soy sauce, black pepper, and salt. Simmer 10–15 minutes until the sauce lightly coats a spoon. Remove bay leaves.
Boil the ziti
Salt the boiling water. Cook ziti 1–2 minutes less than the package time so it stays al dente. Drain and reserve about 1/2 cup pasta water.
Combine pasta and sauce
Toss the drained ziti with the sauce. If it looks too thick, loosen it with a splash of the reserved pasta water.
Layer with cheese
Spread half the mixture in a baking dish. Sprinkle on half the mozzarella. Add the remaining pasta, then top with the rest of the mozzarella and the Parmesan.
Bake and rest
Bake for 25–30 minutes until the cheese is melted and lightly browned. Let it sit for 10 minutes before serving so it slices neatly.