One Pot Baked Ziti |Cooking With Amanda

Get ready for another one pot pasta wonder! My husband and I grew up eating baked ziti on a bi-weekly basis. It's a go-to recipe for both of our moms (and still is). It's a classic. I decided to turn the classic baked ziti into a one-pot meal. Don't worry—it still gets baked in the oven, but with half the dishes required to make this classic.

You'll want a heavy-duty stove-top and oven safe pot to make this one pot baked meat ziti - I used my favorite French oven. You'll cook most of this recipe on the stovetop and just finish the ziti in the oven under the broiler for a few minutes until golden brown.

Like I said, half the mess to clean up. You'll brown your veggies and meat in the pot first, followed by adding in a box of pasta, pouring the crushed tomatoes on top, mix it well and let it cook for a good 20 minutes. Don't forget to stir it a few times while it's cooking.

Once the pasta is al dente (or to your liking) you'll remove it from the heat and place dollops of ricotta throughout the pasta. Top it with shredded mozzarella cheese and place it under the broiler. That's it! One pot… not 3 or 4!

While the pasta cooks, it gives you time to unload the dish washer, make a salad, and toast some garlic bread to go along with your dinner! This classic can also feed an army and I find its perfect for entertaining. Even better since you'll have fewer dishes to do once your guest leave! Or, make a big batch, split the ziti in half, and bring it to a friend or family, or you can stock the freezer too. It makes a great make-ahead meal!

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One Pot Baked Ziti Recipe

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup white onion, minced
1 tablespoon garlic, minced in water
1 carrot, minced
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons italian seasoning
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 pound ziti pasta
2 28 ounce cans crushed tomatoes
1 cup water
15 ounces ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

For Serving:

grated parmesan cheese
fresh herbs

Directions

Heat a deep skillet on medium-high high. Place the olive oil and butter in the skillet and let melt for one minute, then add minced onion, garlic, and carrot.
Sauté for 5 minutes until soft, then add in the lean ground beef and ground pork. Sauté and cook for an additional 5 minutes, making sure to break the meat up with a wooden spoon and mixing the vegetable mixture in with the meat.
Once the meat is fully cooked (no pink is showing) season the meat with the salt, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and granulated sugar.
Mix well and then pour the ziti noodles in the skillet. Pour 1 can of crushed tomatoes in the skillet. Mix the ziti, meat, and sauce together. Then add in the second can of crushed tomatoes. Mix well and add the water on top of the noodles. Mix well again, making sure the noodles are fully covered.
Place a lid on the skillet, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes until noodles are soft.
Preheat broiler to low.
Remove lid and mix the pasta. Use a cookie scoop and begin adding dollops of ricotta to the pot (lift up portions of the pasta and place dollops lower in the pot too). Sprinkle shredded mozzarella on top. Place the oven-safe pot in the oven and bake until cheese is melted and golden brown.
Serve meat ziti immediately and top with Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs if desired.