Cheesy Baked Ziti with Herb Meatballs
A comforting Italian casserole with savory meatballs, creamy ricotta, and layers of pasta. This Italian beef recipe (gluten-free), ready in about 50 minutes, pairs ground beef, Italian sausage, and ricotta for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 400 g ground beef
- 200 g Italian sausage
- 1 cup ricotta
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 cup mozzarella
- 1/4 cup Parmesan
- 1 tsp oregano
The 9x13 baking dish we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Instructions
- Step 1: In a bowl, mix beef, sausage, ricotta, breadcrumbs, egg, 1/2 tsp oregano, and salt/pepper. Form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Step 2: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Brown meatballs in a skillet over medium heat, then transfer to a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Step 3: Cook ziti according to package instructions. Layer 1/2 pasta, 1 cup marinara, 1/2 mozzarella, and 1/4 Parmesan. Repeat layers, finishing with marinara and remaining mozzarella/parmesan.
- Step 4: Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
