Description
Indulge in the richness of this Million Dollar Baked Ziti, a decadent and comforting pasta dish that combines layers of ziti, creamy cheeses, savory meat sauce, and a perfectly baked golden crust. Perfect for a family dinner or gathering!
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
Meat Sauce:
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese Mixture:
- 1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
- 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook pasta: Cook ziti pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Prepare meat sauce: Brown ground beef with onion, garlic, and seasonings. Add marinara sauce, simmer, then set aside.
- Mix cheeses: Combine ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, 1 cup mozzarella, and half of Parmesan until smooth.
- Layer: In a baking dish, layer ziti, cheese mixture, and meat sauce. Top with remaining cheeses.
- Bake: Cover and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until golden.
- Rest and serve: Let it rest before serving, garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can use a blend of sausage and beef for extra flavor.
- Prepare ahead and refrigerate before baking—adjust bake time accordingly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
