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Million Dollar Baked Ziti Recipe

Million Dollar Baked Ziti Recipe
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★★★★★

4.7 from 11 reviews

A rich and comforting Million Dollar Baked Ziti featuring layers of perfectly cooked ziti pasta, savory ground beef and Italian sausage, luscious ricotta, melted mozzarella, and sharp Parmesan cheese baked in a flavorful marinara sauce. Ideal for family dinners or special occasions, this dish combines classic Italian flavors with a cheesy, hearty texture.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 1 pound ziti pasta

Meat

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound Italian sausage

Sauce & Seasonings

  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Cheeses

  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the ziti later.
  2. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  3. Prepare Meat Mixture: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage until browned and cooked through, breaking the meat into crumbles as it cooks. Drain excess fat.
  4. Add Garlic and Seasonings: Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning into the cooked meat. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Combine Sauce and Meat: Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet with the meat mixture and simmer gently for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
  6. Mix Pasta and Ricotta: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti pasta with ricotta cheese, stirring to fully coat the pasta.
  7. Layer the Ziti: In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread half of the pasta and ricotta mixture as the first layer. Top with half of the meat sauce, then sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and half of the grated Parmesan over the layer. Repeat layering with remaining pasta, meat sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.
  8. Bake: Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
  9. Serve: Remove from the oven and let the baked ziti rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set and cool slightly.

Notes

  • For a spicier version, use spicy Italian sausage or add crushed red pepper flakes.
  • Feel free to substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
  • Adding fresh basil or parsley on top before serving adds a lovely fresh flavor.
  • Use gluten-free pasta to make this dish gluten-free.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked ziti, Italian pasta bake, cheesy pasta casserole, ziti with sausage, comfort food pasta

Find it online: https://kitchenbynora.com/million-dollar-baked-ziti-recipe-2/