Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta. Cook it until slightly under al dente. This takes about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta well and set it aside while you prepare the sauce.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef or sausage. Break it apart with a spoon while cooking. Cook until browned and fully done. This step adds deep flavor to the baked ziti.

Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the cooked meat. Cook for about 3 minutes until soft. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute. The kitchen will smell amazing at this point.

Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet. Stir well to combine everything. Add oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently for 8 minutes so the flavors blend together nicely.

In a medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese with half of the mozzarella. Add a little Parmesan and chopped basil. Stir everything until creamy and smooth. This mixture makes the baked ziti soft and rich.

Add the cooked pasta into the skillet with the sauce. Stir gently until all the pasta is coated. If the mixture looks dry, add a splash of pasta cooking water. This keeps the sauce silky and smooth.

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread half the pasta mixture into a baking dish. Add the ricotta mixture on top. Spread it gently. Then add the remaining pasta mixture over the cheese layer.

Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top. This layer will melt and become golden in the oven. It creates the classic baked ziti look everyone loves.

Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake another 10–15 minutes. The cheese should melt completely and turn lightly golden.

Take the baked ziti out of the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. This helps the layers settle. Sprinkle fresh basil on top before serving for extra color and flavor.