Step 1

Preheat oven to 350° F (176° C). Next, bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stove; cook pasta according to package directions. Cook your pasta al dente (about 10 minutes), so that it's slightly undercooked. It will soften up in the oven.

Step 2

Meanwhile, saute diced onions in a large frying pan on medium heat for 1-2 minutes. You can use a water saute or a small amount of olive oil if you wish. Add defrosted Beyond beef and cook until browned, about 5 minutes, breaking up with a spatula as you go along.

Step 3

Add marinara sauce and stir. I like to thin out my marinara by adding ¼ cup of water into the empty jar (seal and shake) to collect all those last bits of sauce. For more flavor, you can use white cooking wine. Stir sauce and turn off heat.

Step 4

After pasta is cooked and drained, it’s time to prepare your casserole! In a 9 x 13 greased baking dish, add cooked ziti noodles. Next, add the sauce and vegan parmesan. Stir to coat the pasta and spread out evenly in baking dish. Top with vegan mozzarella and cover with foil.

Step 5

Pop in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted on top. You can remove the foil after 15 minutes to check and leave off for the remaining 5 minutes if you want your cheese to brown a bit.

Step 6

Let the baked ziti sit for 5 minutes to cool. Top with fresh basil, if desired.