Description
A rich, cheesy, comforting classic, this Million Dollar Baked Ziti is the ultimate easy dinner idea that feels like a feast.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Sauté diced onions for 3–4 minutes. Add meat and cook until browned. Stir in garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Let simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta, softened cream cheese, sour cream, and 1 cup of mozzarella until smooth.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish. Layer half the pasta, half the meat sauce, then all the cheese mixture. Top with remaining pasta and sauce. Finish with mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 10–15 more minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley or basil.
Notes
- This dish is perfect for meal prep and can be frozen for later use.
- Feel free to customize with your favorite vegetables or protein.
- Make sure to let it rest before serving for easier slicing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Million Dollar Baked Ziti, Baked Ziti, Italian Pasta Dish, Comfort Food