Description
This Million Dollar Baked Ziti recipe features a rich combination of pasta, cheese, and flavorful marinara sauce, baked to perfection.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Cook ziti pasta according to package instructions; drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add ground beef or sausage and cook until browned. Drain excess grease.
- Stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, sour cream, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
- Layer the baking dish:
- Spread half the cooked ziti.
- Add a layer of the ricotta mixture.
- Spoon half the meat sauce over it.
- Sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella.
- Repeat the layers.
- Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until bubbly and golden.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For added flavor, substitute part of the ricotta with cream cheese.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
- Can be prepared ahead of time and baked later.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 720mg