• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hot Rod's Recipes
  • Browse Recipes
  • How-To
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Videos
  • How-To
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Videos
    • How-To
    • About
    • Subscribe
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Italian

    Baked Ziti with Tomatoes

    Published on June 5, 2017 - Updated on January 16, 2023 by Chef Rodney - 1 Comment - This post may contain affiliate links.

    41 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    baked ziti with tomatoes
    A Delicious Baked Ziti with Tomatoes Pasta Dish. Beef and Cheese on pasta. How can you go wrong with that combination? Similar to Mac & Cheese
     
    baked ziti with tomatoes

    This Baked Ziti with Tomatoes recipe is a relatively easy pasta recipe that everyone in your family will enjoy. How can you go wrong with ground beef and cheese on pasta?

    meat and tomatoes in skillet

    If you are trying to be a little more health-conscious or just don't care for red meat, you can substitute ground beef for some ground turkey. Either way, this baked ziti dish is fantastic. One of the days I am going to try adding some chicken instead of using ground beef. Need to have some protein!

    baked ziti casserole

    🐄 How to Handle Raw Beef

    Thaw raw ground beef on a plate on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, to avoid dripping onto other foods.
    Keep raw and ready-to-eat meats separate.
    Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw ground beef. Wash cutting boards, bowls, and utensils used to prepare raw ground beef with hot soapy water and rinse well.
    Use separate plates to carry raw ground beef patties to the cooking area and cooked patties to the serving area.
    Use a Thermometer to ensure Ground Beef Reaches the Safely Cooked Internal Temperature of 160°F.

    baked ziti ready for oven

    💭 What is Al Dente

    When making pasta, it's important to cook the pasta al dente to ensure to best texture possible. If you are not familiar with the term "al dente", it means cooking the pasta so it's still chewy and firm and that it will hold its shape when the sauce is added to it.

    ziti casserole fresh out of the oven

    💭 Ingredient Substitution

    Instead of the Ziti Pasta you can use Rigatoni Pasta if you want. Very similar in shape and will not alter the overall flavor of this fantastic dish.

    baked ziti with tomatoes

    For more great recipes like this one, I suggest you check these recipes out:

    • weight watchers ziti and turkey casserole
      Weight Watchers Turkey and Ziti Casserole
    • Mac and Cheese with Green Onions and Ham
      Mac and Cheese with Green Onions and Ham
    • copycat kfc macaroni salad
      Delicious Copycat KFC Macaroni Salad
    • italian tuna casserole
      Italian Tuna Casserole

    📋 What ingredients do I need

    You will need the following ingredients to make this Baked Ziti with Tomatoes recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Ground Beef, Yellow Onion, Tomatoes, Salt, Basil, Ground Black Pepper, Ziti, Mozzarella Cheese and Parmesan.

    🥣 How to Make Baked Ziti with Tomatoes

    In a Dutch oven, cook the ground beef and chopped onions over medium heat until the meat is cooked. Drain the juices.
    Stir in the tomatoes, salt, basil, and pepper. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    Cook ziti noodles al dente according to package directions. Drain and put the pasta in a large bowl. Stir in the meat mixture and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
    Transfer to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and remaining mozzarella cheese.
    Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 15 minutes longer or until the cheese is melted and bubbling.

    baked ziti with tomatoes

    Baked Ziti with Tomatoes

    A Delicious Baked Ziti with Tomatoes Pasta Dish. Beef and Cheese on pasta. How can you go wrong with that combination? Similar to Mac & Cheese
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 6
    Calories 528 kcal

    Equipment

    • Skillet
    • Baking Dish
    • Bowl for Mixing

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 lb Lean Ground Beef
    • 1 Yellow Onion, chopped
    • 4 Cups Tomatoes, diced
    • 1 ½ teaspoon Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
    • ¼ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
    • 16 oz Ziti
    • 2 Cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
    • 2 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese, grated

    Instructions
     

    • In a Dutch oven, cook the ground beef and chopped onions over medium heat until meat is cooked. Drain the juices.
    • Stir in the tomatoes, salt, basil, and pepper. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    • Cook ziti noodles al dente according to package directions. Drain and put the pasta in a large bowl. Stir in meat mixture and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
    • Transfer to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and remaining mozzarella cheese.
    • Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and bubbling.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 528kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 36gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 902mgPotassium: 728mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1095IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 250mgIron: 3mg

    Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.

    Tried this Recipe?Leave a Comment below and share a picture on Instagram and tag @hot_rods_recipes and hashtag #hotrodsrecipes!

    More Easy Italian Recipes

    • baked italian meatballs
      Easy Baked Italian Meatballs
    • penne with vodka sauce
      Penne with Vodka Sauce
    • classic lasagna
      Classic Lasagna
    • Italian Manicotti
      Italian Manicotti
    hot rods recipes

    Reader Interactions

    1 Comment

    1. Nikki

      May 11, 2022 at 1:45 pm

      This baked ziti was very tasty. My husband loved it and we had enough leftover for a second dinner.

      Reply

    leave comment and rating! Cancel reply

    We would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please choose a star rating. Thanks!

    Recipe Rating:




    Before a comment appears it needs to be approved by the site owner. Read our Comment Policy to see how your comment data is processed. Your email address will NOT be published.

    Primary Sidebar

    Chef Rodney Headshot

    Hi! I'm Rodney and welcome to my blog. I am a foodie and a self-taught cook. See More →

    Trending Recipes

    • traditional canadian bannock bread
      Traditional Canadian Bannock Bread
    • blueberry sour cream coffee cake
      Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake
    • Cinnamon Donut Bread
      Cinnamon Donut Bread
    • Cinnamon Sugar Beaver Tails
      Cinnamon Sugar Beaver Tails

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    Recipes

    • Recipe Index
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Pressure Cooking
    • Celebrity Chef Recipes

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Recipe Disclaimer
    • Web Stories
    • Contact Us

    Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Copyright © 2015-2023 The Ventucky Chef, LLC. All rights reserved.