Baked Ziti

10 Servings

Ingredients

1 16 oz package ziti pasta
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef
2 (24 oz) jars Tomato Basil Sauce
1 1/2 t dried basil, divided
12 oz ricotta cheese
1 t Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1 lb mozzarella cheese, shredded

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

Place onion with 1 T of EVOO in large deep skillet and cook about 3 minutes over medium high heat, then add garlic and cook another minute then add ground beef and cook until evenly brown.  Drain, crumble and set aside. In a large saucepan, heat pasta sauce with 1 teaspoon basil until bubbling. In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta, and 1 t Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.

Spray a 9 X 13 baking dish with Pam. Spread bottom of baking dish with a little sauce. Layer 1/2 of the ziti, 1/2 the ground beef mixture, 1/2 of the ricotta mixture and 1/2 of the mozzarella. Spoon half of the sauce over the top. Repeat layers and sprinkle top with remaining 1/2 teaspoons basil and Italian seasoning.

Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes.