Cheesy Baked Pasta with Ground Beef

Name: Cheesy Baked Pasta with Ground Beef
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1 medium onion, diced; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste; 2 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce; 16 oz ziti pasta, cooked; 15 oz ricotta cheese; 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

This cheesy baked pasta combines seasoned ground beef, marinara sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella in one assembled casserole—a reliable weeknight comfort food that comes together quickly.

🌍Italian-American 🏷️Baked pasta 🏷️Casserole 🏷️Ziti 🏷️Ground beef Ricotta

🏷️

🏷️Mozzarella

-0:00

cookinginthemidwestonTikTok

Total

45 min

Servings

6

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$19–$31

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by cookinginthemidwest

-0:00

cookinginthemidwestonTikTok

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
2 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce
16 oz ziti pasta, cooked
15 oz ricotta cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)optional

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Instructions

1
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2
Once the beef is cooked through, add two jars of marinara sauce to the skillet. Stir to combine and let it simmer.
3
Grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
4
Add half of your cooked pasta to the bottom of the casserole dish.
5
Pour half of the meat sauce over the pasta and stir to combine.
6
Dollop the ricotta cheese evenly over the pasta and sauce mixture.
7
Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the ricotta.
8
Add the remaining cooked pasta on top.
9
Top with the rest of the meat sauce, spreading it evenly.
10
Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top.
11
Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for about 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
12
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef thoroughly and drain excess fat to prevent a greasy, watery casserole.
Stir the cooked pasta with a little of the meat sauce before layering to prevent clumping and ensure even flavor distribution.
Reserve 1 cup mozzarella to top the casserole in the final layer so it browns and bubbles properly.
Bake covered with foil for the first 25 minutes to prevent the cheese from browning too quickly, then uncover to finish.

Substitutions

Ground beef → ground turkey or Italian sausage (note: adjust seasoning to taste)
Marinara sauce → meat sauce or vodka sauce (note: reduces need for additional seasoning)
Mozzarella → provolone or a mix of provolone and fontina (note: adds sharper flavor)

Storage & make-ahead

Cool leftovers completely, cover, and refrigerate up to 4 days. Reheat covered at 350°F until warmed through, or microwave individual portions until hot.