Baked Ziti with Meatballs

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Food Network SpecialsEpisode: An Italian Christmas With Mario and Giada

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (133)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(133)

Cook Time:
45 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 to 6 servings

Times:

Prep: 45 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 45 min
Total:: 1 hr 30 min

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Ingredients

1/4 cup plain dried bread crumbs
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons milk
3/4 cup grated Romano
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ground beef
All-purpose flour, for dredging
1 pound ziti
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
5 cups tomato sauce
3 cups whole milk ricotta
2 cups shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces

Directions

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.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Baked Ziti with Meatballs
Sabrina Dublin, CA 10-28-2009
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This ziti was very good.
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this ziti for our family of 8 (4 adults and 4 children). Everyone very much enjoyed it! It was not looking like a... classic ziti but I knew that going in that it wouldn't. It is more of a tomato creamy ziti which was absolutely delicious. However I did make a couple changes. For the meatballs I used season Italian breadcrumbs and only a bit of parsley and I cut down the romano cheese. I made them with ground beef which I was nervous about because I typically make my meatballs with veal. This is probably the only change I will make next time -- making the meatballs with veal instead of ground beef. I also left out the parmesan cheese for the topping. Romano and mozarella I knew would be plenty of cheese and it was. The "tomato sauce" was my home made red sauce. So yes it was awesome and everyone loved it and it heated up very well the next day. Thanks Giada for another amazing recipe! You haven't let us down yet!!!Read more
recipe Baked Ziti with Meatballs
Lyn Marlton, NJ 10-24-2009
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Good, quick and delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have used this recipe on many occasions either for a fast meal or when I have alot of guests coming for dinner. It is a... hit and many of my guests complemented me on it and have taken the recipe and made it at their home. It is one of Giada's best. Thanks you!Read more
recipe Baked Ziti with Meatballs
Moriah Eugene, OR 09-25-2009
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Perfection!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This was delicious as sooo simple, everyone loved it. I agree with most below obviously you wouldn't use just a plain sauce... from some can. No one even cooks pasta with that stuff anymore. Now you get prego or Newmans when you feel lazy and don't want to make your own. BUT YUCK anyone knows to throw herbs in to flavor it up. Don't bag on Giada, there have been many recipes that aren't exactly how the episode was shown, email foodnetwork don't bag on the recipe. If you don't like this recipe then you should just give up on authentic Italian food lol Thanks Giada!!!Read more
recipe Baked Ziti with Meatballs
Julia Pottstown, PA 09-23-2009
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Crowd Pleaser
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I took everyone's advice and decreased the amount of cheese. i used one regular sized container of ricotta, and a jar and a... half of newman's sockarooni sauce. i put about a 3rd of the mozerella into the sauce mixture and put the rest on top. i passed on the dabs of butter...figured i didnt need any extra fat. turned out good! not amazing, but i've made it more than once. one time i made the meatballs, one time i used frozen. Read more
recipe Baked Ziti with Meatballs
Jessica Provo, UT 04-20-2009
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Its supposed to be Marinara (spaghetti sauce) NOT tomato sauce!
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

OH man, if you use straight tomato sauce you will be VERY disappointed. I started to think about the recipe after I put it... in the oven (because with just plain tomato sauce as a base, seems like it'd taste bad unless you like to eat just plain tomato sauce with no seasonings). So i came to check the reviews and comments....alas, i should have used marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce. I am sure if i was watching this episode Giada would have said use your favorite sauce, but i wasn't watching it. Giada always has great recipes. So I have attempted to rescue the dinner. It had been in the oven for 10 mins. I pulled it out, took off the cheese topping section by section, and pour the noodles, sauce, and meatballs back into the large bowl and dumped, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, basil, a little rosemary and salt and pepper in-it tasted ok, much better than plain tomato sauce. I just hope the finished product is good enough to not be wasted.Read more
recipe Baked Ziti with Meatballs
christine katy, TX 04-09-2009
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bland as can be
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

This recipe was the most bland thing I have ever eaten in my life. This is the first recipe I have used of Giadas, and will... be the last. Read more