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Easy One-Pot Mummy Baked Ziti: Best Halloween Dinner

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A fun and delicious Halloween dinner that comes together in a single pot. Creamy, cheesy baked ziti with a mummy design made from mozzarella bandages and olive eyes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cups water
  • 12 ounces ziti or penne pasta, uncooked
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese (full-fat)
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (for bandages)
  • 2 pitted black olives (for eyes)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Brown the meat (5 minutes): Place Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add ground beef, and cook until browned and crumbly. Transfer to a plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pot.
  2. Sauté the aromatics (3 minutes): Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook 2-3 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Build the sauce (2 minutes): Pour in crushed tomatoes, water, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Stir, scraping up browned bits. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  4. Add the pasta (15-18 minutes): Stir in uncooked ziti and browned beef. Ensure pasta is mostly submerged. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer gently. Stir once halfway through. Cook until al dente.
  5. Incorporate the cheeses (2 minutes): Remove from heat. Stir in ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, and Parmesan until creamy. Adjust consistency with water or milk if needed.
  6. Create the mummy design (5 minutes): Sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella over the top in long, uneven strips to resemble bandages. Leave a gap near the top for eyes. Place two black olives in the gap, pressing gently.
  7. Broil for the finish (2-3 minutes): If oven-safe, transfer to oven and broil on high until cheese is bubbly and browned. Watch closely to avoid burning.
  8. Rest and serve (5 minutes): Let ziti rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Notes

Use low-moisture mozzarella for bandages to prevent sliding. Let dish rest 5 minutes after broiling. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta. For dairy-free, use plant-based cheeses. Can be assembled ahead and broiled before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween dinner, baked ziti, one-pot pasta, mummy pasta, easy dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://evabake.com/easy-one-pot-mummy-baked-ziti-best-halloween-dinner/