{
  "attribution": {
    "author": "Flavor Folio",
    "publisher": "Flavor Folio"
  },
  "canonicalURL": "https://flavorfolio.app/recipes/make-ahead-baked-ziti-meat-sauce-ricotta",
  "format": "flavorfolio.recipe",
  "image": {
    "alt": "Baked ziti with meat sauce in a foil pan, topped with golden browned mozzarella and chopped fresh parsley",
    "credit": "Photo: SpencerWMartin, Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BakedZiti_2025-12-04.jpg",
    "height": 960,
    "kind": "photograph",
    "smallWidth": 600,
    "url": "https://flavorfolio.app/media/222c2116-cb56-4f97-b6c0-c4dee7baec54/1536.jpg",
    "width": 1280
  },
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-27T00:00:00Z",
  "recipe": {
    "categories": [
      "Dinner"
    ],
    "cookMinutes": 55,
    "cuisine": "Italian-American",
    "difficulty": "easy",
    "ingredients": [
      {
        "item": "ziti or penne pasta",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "lb"
      },
      {
        "item": "kosher salt",
        "note": "for the pasta water",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "tbsp"
      },
      {
        "item": "olive oil",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "tbsp"
      },
      {
        "item": "ground beef and pork mix",
        "note": "or all 85% lean ground beef",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "lb"
      },
      {
        "item": "yellow onion",
        "note": "finely diced",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "medium"
      },
      {
        "item": "garlic",
        "note": "minced",
        "quantity": "4",
        "unit": "cloves"
      },
      {
        "item": "tomato paste",
        "quantity": "2",
        "unit": "tbsp"
      },
      {
        "item": "dried oregano",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "tsp"
      },
      {
        "item": "red pepper flakes",
        "note": "optional",
        "quantity": "1/2",
        "unit": "tsp"
      },
      {
        "item": "kosher salt",
        "note": "for the sauce",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "tsp"
      },
      {
        "item": "jarred marinara sauce",
        "quantity": "24",
        "unit": "oz"
      },
      {
        "item": "canned crushed tomatoes",
        "quantity": "15",
        "unit": "oz"
      },
      {
        "item": "whole-milk ricotta",
        "quantity": "15",
        "unit": "oz"
      },
      {
        "item": "egg",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "large"
      },
      {
        "item": "grated Parmesan",
        "note": "divided",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "cup"
      },
      {
        "item": "fresh flat-leaf parsley",
        "note": "chopped, divided",
        "quantity": "1/4",
        "unit": "cup"
      },
      {
        "item": "black pepper",
        "quantity": "1/2",
        "unit": "tsp"
      },
      {
        "item": "low-moisture mozzarella",
        "note": "shredded (about 4 cups), divided",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "lb"
      }
    ],
    "keywords": [
      "baked ziti",
      "make-ahead baked ziti",
      "baked ziti with meat sauce",
      "baked ziti with ricotta",
      "freezer meal",
      "potluck pasta",
      "Halloween dinner",
      "casserole for a crowd",
      "fall comfort food"
    ],
    "prepMinutes": 25,
    "servings": 8,
    "steps": [
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 5,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          1
        ],
        "instruction": "Heat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tbsp kosher salt."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 9,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          0
        ],
        "instruction": "Cook the ziti 2 minutes less than the package says for al dente (it finishes in the oven). Scoop out 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 8,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          2,
          3,
          4
        ],
        "instruction": "Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat and onion and cook, breaking up the meat, until browned with no pink left and the onion is soft. Spoon off excess fat."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 2,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          5,
          6,
          7,
          8,
          9
        ],
        "instruction": "Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, oregano, red pepper flakes and 1 tsp salt. Cook, stirring, until the tomato paste darkens a shade and smells sweet."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 10,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          10,
          11
        ],
        "instruction": "Pour in the marinara and crushed tomatoes. Simmer gently, stirring now and then, until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust the salt."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 3,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          12,
          13,
          14,
          15,
          16
        ],
        "instruction": "In a bowl, stir together the ricotta, egg, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, half the parsley and the black pepper until smooth."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 2,
        "instruction": "Toss the drained pasta with the meat sauce and the reserved pasta water. It should look loose and extra saucy; the pasta soaks it up as it bakes, which is what keeps it from drying out."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 5,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          17
        ],
        "instruction": "Spread half the pasta in the dish. Dollop the ricotta mixture over it in spoonfuls and scatter 2 cups of the mozzarella on top. Add the rest of the pasta, then the remaining mozzarella and remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. (To make ahead, stop here: cover tightly and refrigerate up to 24 hours, or freeze; see notes.)"
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 35,
        "instruction": "Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 to 20 minutes more, until the sauce bubbles at the edges and the cheese has golden-brown spots."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 10,
        "instruction": "Let the ziti rest for 10 minutes so it slices cleanly, then sprinkle with the remaining parsley and serve."
      }
    ],
    "summary": "A never-dry, crowd-size baked ziti: saucy beef-and-pork tomato sauce, a creamy Parmesan-parsley ricotta layer and a browned mozzarella top. Assemble it the night before (or freeze it) and slide it in the oven for an easy Halloween-night, potluck or rainy-weekend dinner.",
    "title": "Make-Ahead Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce & Garlic-Herb Ricotta",
    "totalMinutes": 90
  },
  "recipeID": "65cfbb5c-4174-489e-b8a5-7c0c73f63363",
  "revision": 1,
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "updatedAt": "2026-10-27T12:06:25.042927Z"
}