Baked ziti with mini meatballs is a classic Italian-American dish that is perfect for a hearty and comforting meal. This dish combines tender ziti pasta, juicy mini meatballs, and a rich tomato sauce, all baked together until bubbly and golden brown. With its combination of flavors and textures, this dish is sure to satisfy everyone at the table. Whether you're looking for a special occasion meal or a weeknight dinner, baked ziti with mini meatballs is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is sure to become a family favorite.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
BAKED ZITI WITH MEATBALLS
Don't tell Grandma, but you do not have to make homemade meatballs and tomato sauce for this delicious pasta and meatballs dish. Of course, you can if you want to, but for a quick yet fulfilling weeknight meal, take advantage of quality convenience products from your grocery store. The night before preparing this ziti and meatball bake, put your frozen meatballs in the refrigerator so they can thaw. This dish is likely to bubble as it bakes, so we advise setting your baking dish on a foil-lined baking sheet. Prepare the pasta according to package instructions, then add everything together in the baking dish. To make this ziti and meatball dish special, we added mushrooms, spinach, and pepperoni to the mix, but we think the secret ingredient is really the citrus. Sugar is often added to tomato sauce to help balance acidity. This recipe uses fresh orange juice instead for sweet citrus notes that boost the flavor of the marinara. Add a loaf of warm homemade bread and serve this meatball dish to your discerning Grandma. We bet she will love it.
Provided by Lisa Cericola
Categories Pasta
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat a 13- x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, and place baking dish on prepared baking sheet. Stir together pasta, marinara sauce, meatballs, mushrooms, spinach, pepperoni, and orange juice in baking dish.
- Bake in preheated oven 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese, and continue baking until cheese is melted and pasta is thoroughly heated, about 10 minutes. Garnish with basil.
BAKED ZITI WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS
Turkey soup is not enough. Something different for that leftover turkey.
Provided by Ann
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Turkey Ground Turkey Recipes
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a bowl, stir together turkey, garlic, bread crumbs, onion, pine nuts, parsley, egg, salt and pepper. Form into meatballs about 1 inch in diameter.
- In a large heavy skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Cook half of meatballs, shaking skillet, until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer meatballs to paper towels to drain. Brown remaining meatballs in remaining 2 tablespoons oil in same manner.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Oil a 3 to 4 quart gratin dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, and cook until just al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain.
- In a small bowl, toss together mozzarella and Romano cheese.
- Spoon about 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce and half the meatballs into prepared dish, and spoon half the pasta on top. Spread half remaining sauce and half cheese mixture over pasta. Top with remaining meatballs, and drop dollops of ricotta over meatballs. Spread remaining pasta over ricotta, and top with remaining sauce and cheese mixture. Bake in middle of oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 691.2 calories, Carbohydrate 66.2 g, Cholesterol 122.1 mg, Fat 29.8 g, Fiber 5.4 g, Protein 40.4 g, SaturatedFat 11.8 g, Sodium 1795 mg, Sugar 10.6 g
BAKED ZITI WITH MINI MEATBALLS
This is another baked ziti recipe. If available, use authentic Italian brands of sauce and crushed tomatoes. The italian brands of canned tomatoes are all 28 oz--just use a bit less. When forming the meatballs, test for consistency: the meatball should hold together well. If too soft then add some bread crumbs. If too stiff then add a bit of water. I use a lasagna pan for this ( spray with non-stick spray for easiest cleanup)
Provided by petlover
Categories Penne
Time 1h30m
Yield 1 ziti, 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- .1. Cook ziti until al dente and then rinse to cool and set aside.
- 2. Mix ground meat, onion, bread crumbs, 1 tsp garlic salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1 egg and 1/2 tsp basil. Form into small meatballs ( a little less than a walnut). Then cook the meatballs in the olive oil until the meatballs are browned and cooked through. Drain off the fat then set aside.
- 3. Mix the ricotta, 1 tsp garlic salt, 1/2 tsp basil, 1/2 tsp parsley, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/2 of mozzarella and 1 egg together. Set aside. Then mix the ricotta mixture with the ziti and set aside again.
- 4. Mix the jar of pasta sauce and the basil crushed tomatoes together then set aside.
- 5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- 6. Assemble: 1/3 of the sauce- followed by 1/2 of the ziti/ricotta/mozzarella-followed by the meatballs- then -- 1/3 sauce - followed by the rest of the ziti/ricotta/mozzarella mix- followed by the last 1/3 of the sauce followed by the rest of the mozzarella and sprinkled with the parmesan cheese.
- 7. Bake, loosely covered with foil for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 20-30 minutes. Let sit at least 10 minutes before serving.
BAKED ZITI WITH MEATBALLS
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories appetizer
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, eggs, milk, 1/2 cup of the Romano and the parsley, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Add beef and gently combine, being careful not to overwork the meat. Shape into bite-size meatballs. Roll each meatball in flour to coat, shaking off excess.
- In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain pasta in a colander and set aside. If not using immediately, cover top with plastic wrap so that pasta does not dry out. Do not rinse pasta with water since you want to retain the pasta's natural starches so that the sauce will cling to the ziti.
- In a large skillet heat the oil over medium-high heat. When almost smoking, add meatballs in batches and without moving or turning the meat, allow it to brown for about 3 minutes. Turn meatballs and brown other side. Continue to cook until all sides are golden brown. Remove meatballs to a plate.
- In a large bowl, combine the tomato sauce and ricotta and mix well. Add the cooked ziti and meatballs and toss gently.
- In a large greased baking dish, pour in pasta mixture. Sprinkle the mozzarella, Parmesan, and remaining Romano all over the top. Dot with the butter. Place baking dish on top of baking sheet covered with aluminum foil to collect any drippings from the dish. Bake until top is golden brown and bubbly, about 30 to 40 minutes.
BAKED RIGATONI WITH MINI MEATBALLS
For individual portions, place small, shallow baking dishes (each holding about 2 1/2 to 3 cups) on a rimmed baking sheet. Divide the pasta mixture among them; top with cheese, then bake and broil.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dinner Recipes
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat oil in a straight-sided skillet over medium-high. Add meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 45 seconds. Add pureed tomatoes and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain pasta; return to pot and toss with sauce and cubed cheese.
- Transfer mixture to an 8-inch square baking dish; cover with parchment-lined foil. Bake until bubbling, 15 minutes. Uncover; top with sliced cheese. Adjust oven to broil; cook until cheese is melted and golden brown, about 2 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes and serve.
BAKED ZITI WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS
Categories Pasta turkey Bake Kid-Friendly Mozzarella Ricotta Winter Parsley Gourmet Small Plates
Yield Serves 6 to 8
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Make meatballs:
- In a bowl stir together well turkey, garlic, bread crumbs, onion, pine nuts, parsley, egg, salt, and pepper and form into meatballs about 1 inch in diameter. In a large heavy skillet heat 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and cook half of meatballs, shaking skillet, until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer meatballs to paper towels to drain and brown remaining meatballs in remaining 2 tablespoons oil in same manner.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. and oil a 3- to 4-quart gratin dish or other shallow baking dish.
- In a kettle of salted boiling water cook pasta until just al dente, about 8 minutes, and drain well. In a small bowl toss together mozzarella and Romano.
- Spoon about 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce and half of meatballs into prepared dish and spoon half of pasta on top. Spread half remaining sauce and half cheese mixture over pasta. Top with remaining meatballs and drop dollops of ricotta over meatballs. Spread remaining pasta over ricotta and top with remaining sauce and remaining cheese mixture.
- Bake ziti in middle of oven 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden, and let stand 10 minutes before serving.
GIADA'S BAKED ZITI WITH MEATBALLS
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis Show: Food Network Specials Episode: An Italian Christmas With Mario and Giada
Provided by Phil Franco
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h40m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, eggs, milk, 1/2 cup of the Romano and the parsley, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Add beef and gently combine, being careful not to overwork the meat. Shape into bite-size meatballs. Roll each meatball in flour to coat, shaking off excess.
- In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain pasta in a colander and set aside. If not using immediately, cover top with plastic wrap so that pasta does not dry out. Do not rinse pasta with water since you want to retain the pasta's natural starches so that the sauce will cling to the ziti.
- In a large skillet heat the oil over medium-high heat. When almost smoking, add meatballs in batches and without moving or turning the meat, allow it to brown for about 3 minutes. Turn meatballs and brown other side. Continue to cook until all sides are golden brown. Remove meatballs to a plate.
- In a large bowl, combine the tomato sauce and ricotta and mix well. Add the cooked ziti and meatballs and toss gently.
- In a large greased baking dish, pour in pasta mixture. Sprinkle the mozzarella, Parmesan, and remaining Romano all over the top. Dot with the butter. Place baking dish on top of baking sheet covered with aluminum foil to collect any drippings from the dish. Bake until top is golden brown and bubbly, about 30 to 40 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1813.9, Fat 104.9, SaturatedFat 53, Cholesterol 423.3, Sodium 2985.7, Carbohydrate 122.2, Fiber 8.7, Sugar 17.2, Protein 96.1
BAKED ZITI WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS
Turkey soup is not enough. Something different for that leftover turkey.
Provided by Christine L
Categories Ground Turkey
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a bowl, stir together turkey, garlic, bread crumbs, onion, pine nuts, parsley, egg, salt and pepper. Form into meatballs about 1 inch in diameter.
- In a large heavy skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Cook half of meatballs, shaking skillet, until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer meatballs to paper towels to drain. Brown remaining meatballs in remaining 2 tablespoons oil in same manner.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Oil a 3 to 4 quart gratin dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, and cook until just al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain.
- In a small bowl, toss together mozzarella and Romano cheese.
- Spoon about 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce and half the meatballs into prepared dish, and spoon half the pasta on top. Spread half remaining sauce and half cheese mixture over pasta. Top with remaining meatballs, and drop dollops of ricotta over meatballs. Spread remaining pasta over ricotta, and top with remaining sauce and cheese mixture. Bake in middle of oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 691.2 calories, Carbohydrate 66.2 g, Cholesterol 122.1 mg, Fat 29.8 g, Fiber 5.4 g, Protein 40.4 g, SaturatedFat 11.8 g, Sodium 1795 mg, Sugar 10.6 g
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your baked ziti. Use fresh, flavorful tomatoes, a good quality cheese blend, and high-quality mini meatballs.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Al dente pasta is the best choice for baked ziti. If you overcook the pasta, it will become mushy and the dish will not be as good.
- Use a variety of cheeses. A blend of different cheeses will give your baked ziti a more complex and flavorful taste. Try using a combination of mozzarella, Parmesan, and ricotta cheeses.
- Don't be afraid to experiment. There are many different ways to make baked ziti. Feel free to add your own favorite ingredients or try different variations of the recipe.
Conclusion:
Baked ziti is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. With its simple ingredients and customizable flavor, it's a dish that everyone will love. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal, give baked ziti a try. You won't be disappointed.
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