Description
Million dollar baked ziti delivers a cheesy, comforting pasta experience that rivals restaurant-quality dishes. Italian-inspired layers of pasta, rich sauce, and melted cheese create a memorable meal for family gatherings and weekend dinners you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ziti pasta
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef or Italian sausage
Cheese Blend:
- 1 cup (240 grams) ricotta cheese
- 1 cup (240 grams) sour cream
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 jar (24 ounces / 680 grams) marinara sauce
- 1 can (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Boil the ziti pasta until al dente, then drain thoroughly and set aside.
- In a large skillet, sauté minced garlic in olive oil until aromatic.
- Add ground meat, breaking into small crumbles and cooking until completely browned; discard excess fat.
- Pour marinara sauce into the skillet, incorporating diced tomatoes and seasonings. Allow mixture to simmer and develop flavors for 5 minutes.
- Create a creamy ricotta blend by whisking ricotta, sour cream, egg, and half the Parmesan until smooth and well-integrated.
- Construct the first layer in the baking dish by spreading a generous portion of meat sauce across the bottom.
- Distribute half the cooked pasta over the sauce layer, creating an even foundation.
- Carefully spread the ricotta mixture across the pasta, then sprinkle half the mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat layering process with remaining pasta, meat sauce, and mozzarella, finishing with a Parmesan cheese dusting.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking 10-15 minutes until cheese turns golden and sauce bubbles.
- Allow casserole to rest 10 minutes before serving, garnishing with fresh chopped parsley.
Notes
- Meat Variation: Swap ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner protein option that’s lighter but still packed with flavor.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Use gluten-free ziti pasta to make this dish suitable for those with gluten sensitivities without compromising taste.
- Veggie Boost: Sneak in extra vegetables like spinach, zucchini, or mushrooms into the meat sauce for added nutrition and texture.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Assemble the entire dish up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate, then bake when ready to serve for convenient meal prep.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 566 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg