The ragu is filled with the tangy flavors of tomatoes and marinara sauce.

What Is Baked Ziti?

It’s also usually topped with a bountiful layer of cheese and then baked until bubbly and golden brown.

Southern Living Baked Ziti in the baking dish ready to serve

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It hits all the notes when you’re craving cheesy, rich Italian food.

What is the difference between baked ziti and lasagna?

Baked ziti andclassic lasagnahave many of the same ingredients, but baked ziti is much faster than lasagna.

Southern Living Baked Ziti ingredients

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There’s no intricate layers, and the ragu for baked ziti cooks quickly.

Many lasagna meat sauces cook for several hours.

You just need to let the cheeses melt and bring everything together with a bake in the oven.

Southern Living Baked Ziti portioned out on a plate to serve

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If you bake at a higher or lower temperature, adjust the times until the cheese is cooked.

Avoid burning the top cheeses by putting aluminum foil on the casserole if needed.

Can You Freeze Baked Ziti?

Southern Living Baked Ziti pasta after cooking and draining

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Yes, you might freeze baked ziti.

you might freeze it before it’s bakedjust wrap the assembled casserole in plastic wrap and aluminum foil.

Freeze up to 3 months.

Southern Living Baked Ziti browning the ground beef

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Or you’ve got the option to freeze after it’s bakedlet cool to room temperature before freezing.

Then wrap well, and freeze up to 3 months.

Either way, thaw the ziti in the fridge overnight before baking or reheating in the oven.

Southern Living Baked Ziti after the ground beef has been cooked through

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Reheat individual portions in the microwave with 30-second bursts until warmed through.

If the cheese begins to darken, cover with aluminum foil while the dish continues to heat.

Ingredients

1(1-lb.

Southern Living Baked Ziti after adding the onion and garlic

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)pkg.ziti

3Tbsp.olive oil, divided

1lb.

90/10lean ground beef

1small(7 oz.

)canwhole peeled plum tomatoes, crushed by hand

1(24-oz.

Southern Living Baked Ziti adding the tomatoes and pasta sauce

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)jarmarinara sauce

1(15-oz.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high.

Drain ziti in a colander, and toss with 1 tablespoon of the oil.

Southern Living Baked Ziti adding the cheeses to the sauce

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Break ground beef into medium-sized clumps, and add to Dutch oven.

Add garlic and onion:

Reduce heat to medium.

Add onion and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes.

Southern Living Baked Ziti layering the casserole

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Make ragu:

Stir in plum tomatoes and marinara sauce.

Bring to a simmer over medium.

Cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 10 to 12 minutes.

Southern Living Baked Ziti after assembling before baking

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Remove from heat, and set aside 3 cups of the ragu.

Add cooked ziti, and stir until thoroughly combined.

Spoon half of the ziti mixture over ragu.

Southern Living Baked Ziti after baking ready to serve

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Spoon 1 cup of the reserved ragu over ziti mixture.

Spoon remaining ziti mixture over ragu.

Let cool 5 minutes.