Description
This single serving baked ziti is a hearty, cheesy pasta dish made with ziti, marinara sauce, ground beef, and a blend of cheeses. Baked until bubbly, it’s an easy and satisfying meal for one.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ounces dried ziti or penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 4 ounces ground beef
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup marinara sauce, plus 2 tablespoons for the bottom of the dish
- ⅓ cup ricotta cheese
- 6 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, add the oil, onions, garlic, ground beef, ¼ teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 8 minutes, breaking up the meat, until browned.
- Combine: Stir in the marinara sauce and let it simmer for a minute. Remove from heat and fold in the cooked pasta.
- Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, mix the ricotta, 2 tablespoons mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Gently fold into the beef and pasta mixture.
- Assemble: Grease a 5×5-inch baking dish. Spread 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce on the bottom. Add half of the pasta mixture and top with 2 tablespoons mozzarella. Add the remaining pasta, then top with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Bake: Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
Undercook the pasta slightly as it will finish in the oven. Remove excess grease after browning beef for better texture. Grate cheeses fresh for best melting. Let rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 703 kcal
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 2176 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 62 g
- Cholesterol: 122 mg
Keywords: baked ziti, pasta for one, single serving meal, ground beef pasta, easy dinner