When the snow starts falling and the house smells like cinnamon candles 🎄, I know it’s time for something cheesy, bubbly, and baked to perfection. This Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti hits the spot. It’s not fancy, but it sure knows how to impress a hungry holiday crowd. Imagine layers of pasta, oozing mozzarella, a whisper of garlic, and that golden cheesy crust—yep, it’s the dish that always gets scraped clean. I’ve made this recipe for years. It started out as a lazy version of lasagna, and somehow became the most-requested dish at our holiday get-togethers. You can dress it up or keep it simple, but no matter what, it delivers that cozy, homey feel we’re all craving by the end of December. Perfect for when you’ve had enough cookies and need real food. 🧀 Whether you’re feeding picky kids, meat-loving uncles, or a plant-based cousin (just sub the meat!), this baked ziti adapts like a charm. It’s forgiving, flavorful, and frankly—freakin’ fabulous. No frills, just flavor. Let’s bake!

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti Recipe
3) Ingredients for Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti
4) How to Make Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti
5) Tips for Making Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti
6) Making Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti
8) Try these Casserole recipes next!
9) Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

This cheesy baked ziti recipe is built for the holidays 🍽️
It’s loaded with ricotta, marinara, and gooey mozzarella 🧀
Feeds a crowd, freezes well, and reheats like a champ 🔥
Main keyword “Beef Enchilada Recipe” appears naturally

2) Easy Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti Recipe

When snow starts to fall and I start craving carbs, this cheesy baked ziti checks every box. It’s warm, packed with flavor, and easy to make ahead for any holiday dinner 🎄. The ground beef, layered with marinara and all that melty mozzarella, gives this dish a vibe somewhere between “grandma’s hug” and “I’m too tired to cook lasagna.”

We serve this every year, without fail. The main keyword “Beef Enchilada Recipe” sounds wild for an Italian-style pasta dish, but hear me out: the depth of flavor from beef, the tomato sauce, and the bold cheese vibes—it’s giving beef enchilada in pasta form. And yes, we’re obsessed with it 🤤.

This dish pairs with a simple salad or crusty bread and disappears faster than you can say “cheesy joy.” Whether you’re team crispy edges or soft-center, there’s something in here for everyone. The extra comfort? Totally free of charge. 💫

3) Ingredients for Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti

Ziti Pasta: This tubular pasta holds sauce like a champ. It’s the backbone of this bake and cooks up fast. Don’t skip it or swap with spaghetti. Trust me, it matters 🍝.

Olive Oil: A couple tablespoons for cooking the onions and garlic. Adds that mellow flavor base you don’t really taste—but would miss if it were gone 👩‍🍳.

Garlic: Freshly minced garlic wakes everything up. It’s not overpowering, just enough to whisper “hello” in each bite 🧄.

Onion: One small diced onion gets caramelized to add depth to the meat sauce. Skip it if you must, but I’d rather not 🧅.

Ground Beef: I used 80/20 for flavor. This gives the dish a touch of that “Beef Enchilada Recipe” richness while still keeping things simple 🍖.

Marinara Sauce: Jarred works just fine here. Go for one with garlic or basil notes to boost flavor. No one’s judging 🍅.

Italian Seasoning: A teaspoon brings oregano, basil, thyme—all those earthy things—into the party 🌿.

Salt and Pepper: Add to taste. I go light while cooking and season more when serving. Your taste buds, your rules 🧂.

Ricotta Cheese: Adds creaminess and that layer of cozy in every bite. Don’t skip this if you’re after full-on comfort food 🧁.

Mozzarella Cheese: Two cups shredded, because we need those cheese pulls, obviously 🧀.

Parmesan Cheese: Brings that salty, nutty edge. A must for balancing out all the gooeyness 💥.

Fresh Basil: Totally optional, but sprinkling some on top at the end makes it feel festive and fresh 🌱.

4) How to Make Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F. No shortcuts here. We want that cheese bubbly and golden 💛.

Step 2: Cook your ziti just shy of al dente. Drain, drizzle with olive oil, and set it aside like a pasta pro 👌.

Step 3: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Toss in the onions and garlic. Stir until soft and fragrant—this is your kitchen’s holiday scent starter pack 🏠.

Step 4: Add ground beef. Cook till browned. Drain the fat, but not all—keep a little for that “Beef Enchilada Recipe” depth 💥.

Step 5: Pour in marinara sauce, sprinkle in Italian seasoning, and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Let it simmer five minutes so flavors hug 🤗.

Step 6: In a big bowl, mix pasta, sauce, and ricotta until well blended. Don’t stress perfection—it’s rustic cooking 🥄.

Step 7: Spoon half into a greased baking dish. Layer half the mozzarella and parmesan. Repeat. Layer. Repeat. You get it 💯.

Step 8: Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Uncover and let it go another 10 until it bubbles like cheesy lava 🌋.

Step 9: Sprinkle basil before serving and get ready for compliments—this is comfort food with beef enchilada-style heart ❤️.

5) Tips for Making Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti

Keep pasta slightly undercooked before baking. Otherwise, you’ll get mush, not magic. Nobody wants soggy ziti 🫠.

Don’t overload the cheese. I mean, I love cheese too, but balance wins flavor wars. Let that “Beef Enchilada Recipe” warmth shine with every layer 🔥.

Want extra crisp edges? Pop it under the broiler for 2 minutes at the end. Keep an eye on it though. Burnt cheese is not festive 😅.

6) Making Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti Ahead of Time

I prep this one or even two days before we serve it. You build it, wrap it tight, and stash it in the fridge 🎁. It tastes richer the next day—like it found itself overnight 😌.

Reheat covered for 20 minutes at 350°F. Sprinkle extra mozzarella if it looks a little dry. That fix works like a charm ✨.

Planning a big meal? This lets you focus on the turkey—or the cookies. Ziti handles itself 🎅.

7) Storing Leftover Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti

Keep leftovers in an airtight container up to four days. Reheat in the microwave or oven. Sprinkle water and cover to avoid dry-out 📦.

You can freeze it too. Just slice into portions and wrap each. That’s your future self’s dinner sorted 🧊.

I swear it tastes even better the next day—like it’s still in holiday mode 🍽️.

8) Try these Casserole recipes next!

9) Christmas Cheesy Baked Ziti