Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.

Add the ziti pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.

While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef or Italian sausage, cooking until browned, about 5-7 minutes.

Add minced garlic and diced onion to the meat mixture and cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir in marinara sauce and let it simmer for 5 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained pasta with ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella, half of the parmesan, and fresh basil leaves.

Spread half of the meat sauce on the bottom of a large baking dish. Layer half of the pasta mixture over the sauce, then repeat with the remaining meat sauce and pasta.

Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and parmesan on top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.

After 25 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the top is bubbly and golden brown.