Baked Ziti Pizza Recipes

BAKED ZITI I

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.
• In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted.

BAKED ZITI PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 550, or the highest your oven goes.
• Dump the can of tomatoes in a blender and pureed. I like to use Zesty Jalepeno, for a little kick!
• Add spices and bring to a simmer. Reduce to the consistency you prefer for your pizza.
• Cook ziti according to Package Directions.
• While the ziti is cooking, prepare your pizza crust on a peel or in a pizza pan, dusted with cornmeal.
• When ziti is done, drain well.
• Combine about 3/4 of the sauce with the ziti, ricotta, and about 3 oz of the mozzarella. It's best to do this while everything is hot, so the cheeses will melt together.
• Spread the mixture on the prepared dough.
• Cover that mixture with the rest of the sauce, and then cover that with the rest of the mozzarella.
• Sprinkle with the parmesan cheese.
• Place pizza in oven and cook at 550 for about 10 minutes, until the bottom of the crust is browned, and the cheese is melted.
• Remove from oven, let cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting.

BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and saute until starting to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and sausage and cook until browned. Drain off almost all of the fat, leaving a bit behind for flavor and moisture. Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and some salt and pepper. Stir, bring to a simmer and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of the cooked sauce to a bowl to cool down.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add some salt. Cook the ziti until not quite al dente.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a bowl, mix 2 cups of the grated mozzarella, the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, eggs and some salt and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times (do not mix completely).
• Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Pour it into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine (there should still be large lumps). Add the cooled reserved meat sauce and toss to combine.
• Add half the coated pasta to a large casserole dish or lasagna dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half the remaining mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of the coated pasta and the remaining sauce and mozzarella.
• Bake until bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before sprinkling with chopped parsley to serve.