Baked Ziti with Meatballs - A classic homestyle baked ziti recipe made a bit easier by using pre-cooked meatballs and jarred pasta sauce.
Spoiler Alert: There's a $25 Target Gift Card Giveaway toward the end of this post. Good luck!
I've talked a lot about the influence that my Italian upbringing has had on my cooking style. I also tend to talk about my grandmother when I share classic Italian dishes here, and today is no different.
Classic Baked Ziti was a staple in my house growing up. Not only was it a weekly meal but it was always served on holidays as well. I think we were the only house I knew that had more pasta served on Thanksgiving than turkey. Of course we had a turkey but we primarily loaded the table with homemade ravioli, meatballs and baked ziti dishes.
While I love to replicate a lot of these homestyle classic dishes of my childhood, I just don't have the time to always prepare everything from scratch. It's a lot of work!
So, on those occasions that I can't spend hours on end in the kitchen, I'm using shortcuts. Shortcuts that include pre-cooked chicken meatballs and Ragú® Homestyle Sauce. See, don't worry, nothing that will take away from the dish.
A few months ago, I had tried the Ragú® Homestyle Thick & Hearty Mushroom and was pleased with the results in my Homestyle Lasagna recipe so this time I opted to use the Ragú® Homestyle Thick & Hearty Roasted Garlic. I had remembered reading then that these Homestyle sauces are Ragú®'s boldest yet because the ingredients are peeled, chopped and simmered with a special blend of herbs.
To get together this Baked Ziti with Meatballs first I cook up my pasta. Once the pasta is cooked and drained, I add in the Ragú® and then a ricotta mixture. I place a layer of the sauced up pasta in the bottom of a baking dish and then add a layer of sliced up, pre-cooked meatballs. I like to use chicken meatballs but you can use whichever cooked and refrigerated variety you like. I sprinkle a little more cheese over the meatballs and then add the rest of the pasta. I then top the pasta with more Ragú®, cover and bake. When just about done, I uncover, top with cheese and pop it back in to get the cheese all ooey gooey and yummy. And then, the most important step - I devour!
Good News! You are one step closer to making this Baked Ziti with Meatballs at home. Enter now for a chance to win a $25 Target Gift Card, where you can buy all your ingredients!
Printable Recipe Card
Baked Ziti with Meatballs
Ingredients
- 16 oz Ziti pasta
- 12 Meatballs pre-cooked, sliced
- 2 - 23 oz Jars Ragú®
- 15 oz Ricotta cheese
- 1 Egg
- ¼ C Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 C Mozzarella cheese grated - divided
- 1 teaspoon Salt kosher
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper freshly cracked
- 2 T Parsley freshly chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instruction.
- In a large bowl, place ricotta, egg, parmesan cheese, ½ C mozzarella, salt, pepper and parsley. Stir to combine. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Drain pasta and return to pot (not over heat). Stir in 1 jar of the sauce. Stir the ricotta mixture into the pasta.
- Spread half of the pasta mixture on the bottom of a 9x13 (or similar) baking dish. Place meatball slices over pasta and then sprinkle ½ C cheese over meatballs. Add remaining pasta mixture. Pour second jar of sauce over the top of everything.
- Cover bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
- After 25 minutes, remove cover and sprinkle remaining cheese over the top. Return to oven, uncovered, for another 10 minutes.
- If desired, garnish with additional chopped parsley.
- Mangia!
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Renee DeWeese says
Looks yummy!
Renee DeWeese says
Love the SPICY VEGGIE QUESADILLAS on the Ragu site!
foodyschmoody says
Yes, those do sound yummy!
Rust says
We would most enjoy the CHICKEN & BROCCOLI ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE.
foodyschmoody says
Yum! Good luck!
Lisa Brown says
The Homemade Pizza looks great and the entire family would love it
Danielle S. says
The Broccoli Cheddar Casserole looks good, the Beef Alfredo Chili Mac, and the Cheddar Baked Potatoes.
violet taylor says
the spicy veggie quesaddillas are similar to something i make but this makes them better
DeAnna Keller says
I would love to try the Caprese Farfalle!
foodyschmoody says
how did I miss that one? I love caprese anything.
Terri Quick says
The homemade pizza looks so yummy!!!!
foodyschmoody says
love homemade pizza!
Dawn Ganey says
i LOVE THE GRILLED CHICKEN PARMESAN.
KENNETH OHL says
homemade chicken and broccoli with fettuccine alfredo
william gossage says
I like to try the rustic italian bowls
Serge B says
My family loves Grilled Chicken Parmesan!
Sara Floyd says
The quick summer gazpacho looks amazing
Amanda Patterson says
I think everyone in my family would love the spicy veggie quesadillas! They look delicious and perfect for a cold day
foodyschmoody says
This one seems to be a popular choice
Sharon says
Hmmm, the spaghetti and turkey meatball looks delish!!
Meghan Buchman says
I'd love to make this: CHICKEN & BROCCOLI ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE.
Ada Miller says
The spicey veggie quesadilla is what my family would really enjoy.
Emily Zhang says
I think my family would love the penne primavera!
Edye says
My family would love the homemade pizza. Yum 🙂
Cherrie says
The rustic italian bowl looks great
philip says
The spicy quesadilas
Allicia says
My family would really like SUN-DRIED TOMATO & TONNO ORECCHIETTE. It's like a more sophisticated version of pasta with red sauce.
Kimberly G says
I would like to try the chicken and broccoli alfredo with fettuccine recipe.
greentopiaries says
I think we would really love the Roasted Shrimp and Tomatoes With Roasted Garlic Parmesan. Looks so yummy and healthy! Thanks for the chance! 🙂
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
Whoa that looks good! Love all of that gooey cheese! Baked Ziti is total comfort food!
linda spiker says
Fabulous recipe and giveaway! I am always a sucker for that stringy melted cheese!
Charlene Carr says
I would like to try the TUSCAN-STYLE SAUSAGE SANDWICH
Debbie Welchert says
The Chili Mac & Cheese looks so good.
Cheryl Newton says
Definitely the Chili Mac & Cheese!
Melissa says
The Caprese Farfalle looks great! Everyone in the family loves tomatoes and basil and cheese!
Leslie says
The pizza bagels look really yummy and kid friendly too! I know my kids would love to help make them and definitely eat them!
Jill H says
The caprese farfalle looks yummy 🙂
Holly Thomas says
SHRIMP FRA DIAVOLO SOUNDS AWESOME.
Sandi (@fearless_dining) says
I love easy pasta recipes for busy school nights. Looks amazing.
Laurel says
Ragu's Quick and Easy section looks great. Their sauces a so versatile.
Rosie says
We would love OVEN BAKED CHICKEN PARMESAN!
Becky Blad says
This recipe looks delicious! I'd also like to try the Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo!
Elena says
I like the Caprese Farfalle
Sheila K. says
The CHICKEN & BROCCOLI ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE sounds good to me!
Samantha F. says
I think my son would love spicy veggie quesadillas!
Donna L says
The Tuscan-Style Sausage Sandwiches looks so delicious! It would be my first pick to try.
Derek Blad says
My wife and I love Caprese salads, like the Caprese Farfalle!
darby says
I would love to try the rustic italian bowls.
valerie sobus says
the cheddar nacho dip grabbed my eye for SURE! It's not something i'd typically think of when i think of Ragu, aaaaand we are big time nacho/tortilla chip lovers over here. there's always a couple bags in the pantry and i have been experimenting with different homemade queso dips as of late 🙂
foodyschmoody says
Oh yum, I didn't even see that one! Now I have to head back over and check it out!
HS says
We would love Sun-Dried Tomato & Tonno Orecchiette .
Erica E says
The Roasted Garlic Parmesan Penne Primavera looks really good and I like that it includes plenty of vegetables!
syrena moua says
Yummmmmmm. I could use some food right about now.
Donna DeGroat says
I will try this recipe, it looks so delicious! 🙂
Savannah Forbes says
Caprese Farfalle 😉 My babies love light pastas
Devin says
The cheddar broccoli casserole looks delicious. That's the recipe i'd try!
Sarah Jestings says
The homemade pizza catches my eye. Looks so yummy!
Becky says
This looks so delicious! I am drooling. I will definitely make this if I win. I just love pasta
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
My family would love the homemade pizza!
Gabrielly says
I like the CHICKEN & BROCCOLI ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE.
Crystal Warnick says
Chicken and broccoli Alfredo looks amazing.
laura ari says
I'd try the quick summer gazpacho.
Miranda Bashwinger says
The SPICY VEGGIE QUESADILLAS look soooo good right now!
Raina DelRio says
Pizza is a weekly thing at our house, so we would probably try the grilled pizza recipe.
Jeffrey says
I would like to try the grilled chicken parmesan with zoodles.
Christine Tatum says
So many delicious looking recipes! I know I would love Roasted Shrimp and Tomatoes With Roasted Garlic Parmesan! YUM!!!
Melina Ramirez says
I think my fammily would enjoy the spaghetti and turkey meatballs.
Kayte CookWatts says
Chili Mac and Cheese for me please= looks great.
Jamie says
This looks amazing! I love shortcuts in the kitchen!
Dina Lindquist says
The The spicey veggie quesadilla looks perfect!
Julie Lawrence says
Grilled chicken parmesan sounds delicious