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Baked ziti

 Easy Baked Ziti

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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6

Equipment

  • Baking dish
  • Pot (For boiling)
  • High-rimmed pot (For meat sauce)

Ingredients

  • 16 oz pasta ziti or penne
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • Minced onion
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 24 oz marinara sauce + spices below
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 15 oz alfredo sauce
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • Fresh basil
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Instructions

  • In a pot large enough for the pasta, boil water and add salt.
  • Cook your ziti (or penne) until 2 minutes before the package says al dente.
  • Strain, rinse with cold water, strain again, and set aside. This will keep it from cooking more.
  • While the pasta is cooking, in a high rimmed pan, add the ground beef and minced onion, and season with salt and pepper.
  • Break apart into pieces and cook fully through.
  • If you prefer, pour out the grease and then add your favorite pasta sauce. I prefer to add more seasoning (garlic powder, Italian seasoning, chili powder, chili flakes), estimated measurements above! Give it a good stir and get ready to build!
  • In the pot with your cooked pasta, pour in your favorite alfredo sauce and give it a good mix.
  • In a greased baking dish, spread the Alfredo-coated pasta, add the meat sauce over the top, covering the pasta completely, and then top with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
  • Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.
  • Sprinkle on the freshly cut basil.
  • Let cool for a few minutes and eat!
  • Enjoy!

Notes

GLUTEN-FREE SUBSTITUTIONS: For those of you who need it, I always like to talk about substitutions to make a meal gluten-free. With this one, the only thing you need to watch for is the pasta. I have not been able to find gluten-free ziti (which is why I use penne). But to me, it still tastes the same…delicious!
If you make this, please leave a comment or rate the recipe below! Also, feel free to leave a comment with anything else you want me to make! I love putting my spin on classic recipes or creating new ones!
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