Description
Million dollar baked ziti promises a culinary journey through rich Italian-American comfort cuisine. Creamy cheeses, robust marinara, and perfectly cooked pasta create a memorable meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 24 ounces (680 grams) marinara sauce
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 15 ounces (425 grams) ricotta cheese
Cheese and Binding Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 12 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
Seasoning and Herbs:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 14 cup (15 grams) chopped parsley
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) and prepare a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Boil ziti pasta in salted water until al dente, then thoroughly drain and set aside.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, breaking into small crumbles. Introduce minced garlic and marinara sauce, allowing the mixture to simmer and develop flavors for 5 minutes.
- Create the cheese blend by whisking ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, and chopped parsley until smooth and well-incorporated.
- Construct the first pasta layer by spreading half the cooked ziti across the bottom of the baking dish, followed by an even distribution of cheese mixture and meat sauce.
- Repeat the layering process with remaining pasta, cheese mixture, and meat sauce to build a robust casserole structure.
- Generously sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese across the top, ensuring complete coverage.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Remove foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until the cheese turns golden and edges become crispy and bubbly.
- Allow the ziti to rest for 5-7 minutes before serving, which helps set the layers and makes cutting easier.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef or turkey for a healthier protein option that reduces overall fat content.
- Mix different cheese varieties like provolone or fontina for deeper, more complex flavor profiles.
- Allow cheese mixture to sit for 10 minutes before layering to help ingredients meld together smoothly.
- Consider adding spinach or zucchini to increase vegetable content and nutritional value without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 560 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg