Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large pot, boil salted water. Add ziti pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

In a large skillet, add ground beef or Italian sausage and cook for about 5-7 minutes until browned. Drain excess fat.

Add minced garlic and chopped onion to the skillet, sauté for 3-4 minutes until onion is translucent. Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for about 5 minutes.

In a mixing bowl, combine drained ziti pasta with ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Mix gently.

In a large baking dish, spread half of the meat sauce mixture on the bottom. Layer half of the cheesy pasta mixture over it. Repeat with remaining meat sauce and pasta mixture.

Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes, then remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly.

Let the Baked Ziti cool for about 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.