Baked Ziti
Finding a kid-friendly recipe that is easy to make and tasty for the whole family can be challenging. Here is one to try.
Lasagna-Style Baked Ziti
| 1 | pound ziti |
| 1 | tablespoon olive oil |
| 1 | large yellow onion, diced |
| ¾ | teaspoon kosher salt |
| ¼ | teaspoon black pepper |
| 1 | pound lean ground beef |
| 3 | cloves garlic, minced |
| ½ | cup chopped fresh oregano (optional) |
| 1 | 26-ounce jar pasta sauce |
| ½ | cup (2 ounces) grated Parmesan |
| 1 | 15-ounce container ricotta |
| 1 | 10-ounce box frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed to remove liquid |
| 1 | cup grated mozzarella |
Cook ziti according to the package instructions.
Heat oven to 400° F.
In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook until the onion is softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the beef, increase heat to medium-high, and cook until no trace of pink remains, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain any remaining liquid. Add the garlic and oregano (if using) and cook for 2 minutes. Add the pasta sauce and heat for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat. Add the Parmesan, ricotta, and spinach and toss again. Spread the mixture into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or individual ramekins and sprinkle with the mozzarella. Bake until the mozzarella melts, about 15 minutes.
Tip: If you prefer, substitute Italian sausage for the ground beef and chopped broccoli for the spinach.
Yield: Makes 4 servings
_Each month ParentsGuide of Las Vegas features one kid-friendly recipe from our readers. E-mail your favorite recipe to Editor@ParentsGuideLV.com. If your recipe is published you will receive 25 DineLV Dollars from DineLV.com. _