Ziti Casserole with Home-made Meat Sauce
I came across this recipe long ago (I can't remember where), and have used it on many occasions. It makes an outstanding casserole -- like lasagne except using Ziti.
Ingredients
Home-made Meat Sauce (makes 12 cups)
- 1 large onion chopped (1 cup)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 Italian sausages chopped
- 2 2lb 3oz cans Italian tomatoes
- 2 6oz cans tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp dried oregano
- 1 Tbsp dried basil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Ziti Casserole (makes 8 servings)
- 1 lb Ziti
- 1 1lb container Ricotta cheese
- ¼ lb Mozzarella cheese diced
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 6 cups Home-made Meat Sauce
Instructions
For the Home-made Meat Sauce (makes 12 cups)
- Sauté onion and garlic in oil in a large skillet on medium heat until soft. Add beef and sausage and brown. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat.
- Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, stirring frequently for 45 minutes, or until sauce thickens. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Let cool.
- If making ahead, freeze in plastic containers in measured recipe portions.
For Ziti Casserole (makes 8 servings)
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cook ziti according to package directions.
- While noodles are cooking, make filling: Combine Ricotta, Mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Layer ziti, filling and meat sauce in a 13"x9"x2" baking dish, starting and ending with the sauce.
- Bake in the oven for 40 minutes, or until bubbly-hot.
- Serve and enjoy!