Million Dollar Baked Ziti Recipe
Indulge in this rich and comforting Million Dollar Baked Ziti recipe that’s a sure crowd-pleaser. Layers of ziti pasta, savory meat sauce, and a creamy cheese mixture, topped with gooey melted mozzarella – a true Italian classic!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
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)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Cook Ziti: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Boil salted water, cook ziti until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- Cook Meat Sauce: Brown ground beef/sausage in a skillet, drain fat, add garlic, then stir in marinara sauce and seasonings; simmer.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: Combine ricotta, half of mozzarella, and Parmesan until creamy.
- Layer and Bake: In a greased baking dish, layer ziti, meat sauce, and cheese mixture. Bake covered, then top with mozzarella and bake uncovered until bubbly.
Notes
- This dish can be prepared ahead and baked when ready to serve.
- Feel free to add a layer of sautéed vegetables for extra nutrition.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Baked Ziti, Pasta Bake, Italian Recipe, Comfort Food
Find it online: https://dinewithlily.com/million-dollar-baked-ziti-recipe/
