Baked Beef Ziti Recipe

12 oz uncooked ziti
1 tsp olive oil
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1/3 pound lean ground beef
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 cup part-skim mozzarella, shredded

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook pasta according to package directions without added fat or salt; drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add garlic and saute 2 minutes. Add beef and cook until browned, breaking up the meat as it cooks, about 3 to 5 minutes; drain off any fat and return to pan to heat.

Add seasonings; stir to coat beef. Cook until herbs become fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Spoon a small amount of tomato mixture into bottom of a 4 quart casserole dish. Top with half of the cooked ziti and then layer with half of the remaining tomato sauce and half the cheese. Layer remaining ziti on top and top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bake until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

Check out more recipes at Mama's Gals Kitchen.