Prep Time: 35 mins

Cook Time: 1hr 0 mins

Total Time:  1 hr 35mins

 Ingredients:

1lb ground beef 

3/4 box of Ziti Pasta

1/2 small  Onion, diced into small cubes

1/2 Sweet Pepper, diced into small cubes

1 Tomato, diced into small cubes

4 cloves Garlic, diced into small cubes

1 tblsp Italian Seasoning 

1/2 tblsp Basil

1/2 tblsp Oregano

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1 1/2  tsp Black Pepper

Mozzarella Cheese, shredded and cubed, use your desired amount

Parmesan Cheese, use your desired amount

1 egg

15oz or 1 small container Ricotta Cheese

1 24 oz Jar of Spaghetti/Tomato sauce

Salt to taste 

2 tblsp Tomato paste

1 cup water

2 tbsp sugar

Parsley 

Directions:

 Prepare Ziti pasta according to directions on package and be sure to add salt to your boiling water. You want to be able to taste the salt in the water but not too salty. 

Tip: You can also add a Chicken Bouillon cube to the water or even boil them in Chicken stock to add some flavor to your pasta.

Once cooked, place cooked pasta under some cold running water, or in a bowl filled with ice and water, to stop the cooking process and set aside. You don’t want your pasta to be overcooked or you may not enjoy this dish much.Be sure to add a little oil (not too much) to the pasta to prevent them from sticking together.

 Over a medium high heat, brown ground Beef in a skillet and be sure to drain the oil before adding any seasoning. I like to brown my ground beef half way, while some of the meat is still pink, and drain. Doing it this way allows to keep some of the fat in the meat which will add some flavor. It’s not necessary to add oil as the meat is lean and will release a lot of oil while browning.

After draining the oil, add onions, garlic, peppers and allow to sauté with beef for about 5 mins.

 Add entire jar of spaghetti sauce, 2 tblsp tomato paste, tomatoes, 1 tblsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tblsp Basil, 1/2 tblsp Oregano, Italian Seasoning, 1 tsp Garlic powder, 1 tsp Black Pepper, about 1 tbsp Parsley, 1 cup water (swished around in spaghetti sauce jar to get out the remainder of sauce) and 2 tbsp sugar to the Beef. Stir well and allow to simmer over a low heat for about 15 mins to allow the Ground beef and sauce to somewhat marry each other.

Tip: if you have a fresh blend or green seasoning mix, add some to sauce to kick the flavors up a notch!

 While sauce is simmering prepare Ricotta cheese mixture by adding your desired amount to a bowl with 1 egg, your desired amount of shredded Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp Black pepper and a dash of salt to taste. Combine all ingredients evenly and set aside.

Once the meat sauce is ready, remove from the heat and set aside.

 Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

 In a baking dish, I used a 9x13 baking dish, spread some of the meat sauce all over the bottom lightly and set a little bit aside to top your pasta (about 1 cup or so).

Add the cooked ziti pasta to the meat sauce and combine properly.

Place some of the Ricotta cheese mixture in random spots of the baking dish and then place the ziti and meat sauce mix in the places that doesn’t have any Ricotta Cheese mix.

Top with shredded and cubed Mozzarella Cheese and shredded Parmesan cheese. Repeat this step until your baking dish is full. 

Once you’ve filled up the baking dish with the layered pasta, top with some of the meat sauce, that you set aside, in random places and then the Ricotta Cheese mix, if you have any left, then top with as much of the shredded Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese as you want.

Cover with foil paper and place in oven to bake for 45 mins or, until fully heated, and then uncover and allow to bake for an additional 10 mins to get a nice color on top.

Let stand for at least 10 mins before serving and enjoy with some Garlic Bread, a salad or your favorite side!