Recipe Background
Hm, hm, hm, what to make for dinner? Baked ziti always hits the spot... but what about Baked Ziti & Meatballs? You could use a little extra protein to add a little more pep to your step, right?! And who doesn't love their bouncy ziti noodles tossed with a bit of meaty, juicy meatballs! Tossed with tangy pasta sauce and baked with melty cheese on top, Baked Ziti & Meatballs is what's for dinner tonight!
Hm, hm, hm, what to make for dinner? Baked ziti always hits the spot... but what about Baked Ziti & Meatballs? You could use a little extra protein to add a little more pep to your step, right?! And who doesn't love their bouncy ziti noodles tossed with a bit of meaty, juicy meatballs! Tossed with tangy pasta sauce and baked with melty cheese on top, Baked Ziti & Meatballs is what's for dinner tonight!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 small onion diced
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese plus 2 cups shredded parmesan cheese, divided
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 large eggs beaten, divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ziti pasta cooked
- 48 ounces pasta sauce
- 16 ounces ricotta cheese
- 16 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, the breadcrumbs, the onion, the garlic powder, 1/2 cup of the grated parmesan, 1 teaspoon of the Italian seasoning, the salt, and the pepper.
- Add 1 of the beaten eggs to the beef mixture and use your hands to fully combine.
- Use a 1-1/2-inch scooper to scoop out the beef mixture and then use your hands to roll them into balls.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil and the meatballs and cook until they are browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the meatballs to a plate covered with foil to keep them warm.
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions.
- Spread a thin layer of 1/4 of the pasta sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Top the sauce with 1/2 of the ziti, 1/4 of the sauce, 1/2 of the mozzarella, and 1/2 of the ricotta.
- Repeat the layers with 1/4 of the sauce, the remaining ziti, the remaining mozzarella, and the remaining ricotta, ensuring there is enough room remaining for the meatballs.
- Place the meatballs on top of the ricotta and press them down into the pasta.
- Drizzle the meatballs with the remaining sauce.
- Sprinkle the sauce with the remaining Italian seasoning and the remaining shredded parmesan cheese.
- Bake the meatball mixture until they are golden-brown and the cheese has melted, about 45 minutes.
- Serve.
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