Yum, yum, yum! There’s no other reaction to tasting the Yummy Ziti Bake than that! Tender ziti is the perfect way to scoop up all the rich pasta sauce, juicy and savory ground beef, and wilted, herbaceous spinach! It even comes with melted mozzarella balls on top for a distinct take on classic ziti bakes! Don’t wait for all that scrumptious goodness and get to digging into this Yummy Ziti Bake! Yum yum!
Ingredients
- 2 cups ziti, uncooked
- 1 pound ground round
- 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 egg
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1/4 cup dry red wine
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara
- 2 bunches (about 4 cups) flat-leaf spinach, stems discarded and leaves torn
- 3 tablespoons fresh fresh-leaf parsley, chopped, plus more, to taste, for garnish
- 3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped, plus more, to taste, for garnish
- 8 ounces bocconcini (small fresh mozzarella balls)
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish.
Step 3 –Cook the ziti in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, according to the package directions.
Step 4 –Gently combine the ground round, the onion, the breadcrumbs, the garlic, the egg, the salt, and the pepper in a bowl.
Step 5 –Shape the meat mixture into 16 meatballs.
Step 6 –In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil.
Step 7 –Add the meatballs and cook, while turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 6-8 minutes.
Step 8 –Stir the wine into the skillet with the meatballs, gently scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen the browned bits.
Step 9 –Stir the marinara, the spinach, 3 tablespoons of the parsley, and 3 tablespoons of the basil into the skillet mixture and bring it to a simmer.
Step 10 –Transfer the skillet from the heat and fold in the pasta.
Step 11 –Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared pan.
Step 12 –Top the bake with the mozzarella balls.
Step 13 –Bake until the cheese is melted and the edges are bubbly, about 25-30 minutes.
Step 14 –Let the bake stand for 10 minutes.
Step 15 –Serve garnished with the extra parsley and the extra basil.
