Baked Ziti
"A big, bubbling pan of cheesy baked ziti with seasoned ground beef -- the kind of comfort food that feeds half the neighborhood."
The Game Plan
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Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
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Cook the penne for 2 minutes less than the package directions -- it will finish cooking in the oven. Drain and set aside.
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While the pasta cooks, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no pink remains, about 7-8 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
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Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes to the beef. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
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Pour in the marinara sauce and stir to combine. Let it simmer for 3-4 minutes, then season with salt and pepper.
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In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, half of the shredded mozzarella, and the parmesan. Stir until smooth.
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Combine the drained pasta with the meat sauce and toss until everything is coated.
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Spread half of the pasta-meat mixture in a greased 9x13 baking dish. Drop spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture evenly across the top. Add the remaining pasta on top and spread it out.
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Cover with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
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Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
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Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving -- this keeps it from being a sloppy mess on the plate.
