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Million Dollar Baked Ziti Recipe

Million Dollar Baked Ziti Recipe

★★★★★

5.1 from 27 reviews

Indulge in the rich and comforting flavors of this Million Dollar Baked Ziti. Layers of ziti pasta, savory meat sauce, and creamy cheeses come together in a dish that’s sure to please the whole family.

Ingredients

Scale

Ziti Pasta:

  • 12 oz ziti pasta

Meat Sauce:

  • 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 24 oz marinara sauce
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Cheese Mixture:

  • 15 oz ricotta cheese (whole milk)
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (whole milk), divided
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven and cook pasta: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Boil salted water and cook ziti until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. Cook the meat sauce: Brown ground beef or sausage in a skillet. Add garlic, marinara sauce, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Prepare the cheese mixture: Combine ricotta, half of the mozzarella, and Parmesan in a bowl until creamy.
  4. Layer and bake: In a greased baking dish, layer ziti, meat sauce, and cheese mixture. Repeat layers. Bake covered, then top with remaining mozzarella and bake until bubbly.

Notes

  • You can customize the meat in this recipe by using either ground beef or Italian sausage.
  • Feel free to add your favorite herbs or spices to the meat sauce for extra flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: Baked Ziti, Pasta Bake, Italian Pasta Recipe