– 1 pound ziti pasta – 1 pound ground beef – 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce – 1 cup ricotta cheese – 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese – 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese – 1 egg – 2 cloves garlic, minced – 1 tablespoon olive oil – Salt and pepper to taste – 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Boil the ziti pasta in salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
In a skillet, heat olive oil and sauté garlic. Add ground beef, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, and cook until browned.
Pour marinara sauce into the cooked beef, stir, and let simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and set aside.
In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, half the Parmesan, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
In a large baking dish, layer half the pasta, half the meat sauce, and spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture evenly over it.
Top with half the mozzarella, then repeat the layers: pasta, meat sauce, ricotta, and finish with mozzarella and remaining Parmesan.
Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden. Let it cool slightly before serving.