This comforting Italian dish has a from-scratch spaghetti sauce, ziti pasta and a generous combination of cheeses. You can easily double the recipe to serve a larger crowd.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1-3/4 cups spaghetti sauce
  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
  • 6 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano, divided
  • 8 ounces ziti or small tube pasta
  • 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain.
  2. Stir in the spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, tomato paste, water, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, basil and 1/2 teaspoon oregano. Cover and simmer for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
  3. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg, salt and pepper.
  4. Spread 1 cup meat sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Layer with half of the pasta, a third of the meat sauce and half of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and oregano.
  5. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour or until heated through.