5-Ingredient Baked Ziti
This recipe is easy to make ahead of time and to enjoy on a busy weeknight. It's satisfying and a healthier version of the classic dish. This pasta would be a great meal to bring to someone!
Ingredients
Baked Ziti
- 12 oz gluten-free pasta (choose your favorite)
- 1/2 lb mild Italian sausage
- 1/2 lb ground beef or bison
- 2-3 cloves garlic (I use the frozen Trader Joe's cubes) minced
- 1 24-25 oz jar of sugar-free marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- fresh basil
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350° & Greese a 9x13 baking dish
Get a large pot out and start to boil the water for the pasta.
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Gather all the ingredients: pasta, sausage & beef, garlic, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, Italian seasoning and basil.
Cook the meat
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Get out a skillet and begin to brown the meat until it is no longer pink for about 8 minutes.
While the meat is cooking, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook for about 10 minutes until the pasta is al dente. You don't want to overcook the pasta, otherwise it won't freeze well and you risk it becoming mushy.
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Once the meat is cooked add in the garlic (optional).
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Drain the fat from the meat and transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel.
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Add the pasta to the baking dish.
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Then add the meat, the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning and 2/3 cup of cheese and lightly stir to combine all the ingredients. Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup of cheese over the top.
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Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes until cheese is nice and bubbly. Sprinkle with fresh basil and Enjoy!
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We served it with green beans and they want together nicely.
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If you want to freeze the dish, don't bake it, just cover it with foil and transfer to the freezer. It will stay good for 3 months. When you are ready to make it, defrost it overnight and then bake at 400° for 35-45 minutes. If you bake from frozen then bake for 60-75 at 400° minutes.