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Million Dollar Baked Ziti

This creamy and cheesy baked ziti is a family-friendly dish that's rich in flavor and surprisingly easy to make, perfect for cozy dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta & Sauce
  • 12 ounces ziti pasta or any short pasta
  • 3 cups marinara sauce homemade or store-bought
Meat & Aromatics
  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage you can substitute with ground turkey or a meat-free option
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Cheese Mixture
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese can substitute with cottage cheese or vegan ricotta
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the chopped onions and minced garlic until fragrant and translucent.
  3. Add the ground beef or sausage. Break it up and cook until browned. Stir in the marinara sauce and Italian seasoning, then simmer.
  4. In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, half of the grated Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.
Assembly
  1. Grease a baking dish. Layer half the cooked ziti, spread half the ricotta mixture, sprinkle with half the mozzarella cheese, and add half the sauce. Repeat layers.
  2. Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Baking
  1. Cover with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes.
  2. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and browned. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Let the dish rest before serving for better slicing. Pair with a crisp green salad and garlic bread!