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Million Dollar Baked Ziti

A hearty and comforting baked ziti dish with cheesy pasta and savory meat sauce, perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Meat
  • 12 oz ziti pasta
  • 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage Substitute with ground turkey if desired.
  • 24 oz marinara sauce Homemade marinara can be used.
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
Cheese Mixture
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese (whole milk) For extra creaminess, consider mixing in cream cheese.
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (whole milk)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Boil salted water in a large pot and cook ziti until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and set aside.
  3. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or sausage until cooked through. Drain the fat, then add minced garlic; cook until fragrant.
  4. Stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning; simmer for about 5 minutes.
  5. In a bowl, mix ricotta with half of the mozzarella and some Parmesan until creamy.
Assembly
  1. In a greased baking dish, layer half the ziti, followed by the meat sauce and dollops of the cheese mixture. Repeat the layers.
Baking
  1. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  2. Remove the foil, top with the remaining mozzarella, and bake uncovered for an additional 15-20 minutes until bubbly.

Notes

Let the baked ziti cool for a few minutes after removing from the oven. Serve with a side salad or garlic bread. For added nutrition, consider stirring in spinach or other vegetables into the meat sauce.