EFK Tested
Erickson Freezer Baked Ziti
An EFK meal-prep recipe built for practical family cooking, flexible leftovers, and reliable make-ahead use.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 75 min
- Yield
- 8 servings
Let’s get cooking
Ingredients
Tap an ingredient to check it off while you cook.
Directions
- 1. Heat oven to 375°F if baking now. Cook pasta 2 minutes shy of package directions; drain.
- 2. Brown sausage or beef with onion until meat reaches 160°F. Add garlic 30 seconds, then marinara.
- 3. Mix ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, parsley, and Italian seasoning.
- 4. Combine pasta with most meat sauce. Layer half in a 9x13 pan, dot with ricotta mixture, add remaining pasta, and top with remaining sauce and mozzarella.
- 5. Bake covered 25 minutes, then uncover 15 to 20 minutes until bubbling and 165°F in center. Rest 10 minutes.
- 6. For freezing, assemble in a freezer-safe pan with cooled components, wrap, label, and freeze unbaked. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before baking and cook to 165°F.
Equipment
Standard home kitchen equipment appropriate to the method
Airtight meal-prep or freezer-safe containers
Instant-read thermometer where temperature matters
Food safety & storage
Cook ground meat to 160°F. Bake casserole center to 165°F. Thaw frozen casserole in refrigerator.
Store leftovers in a clean glass container in the refrigerator.
View this recipe on the original EFK website ↗