Description
Craving something seriously delicious? Million dollar baked ziti delivers pure comfort straight from your kitchen, packed with cheesy goodness that’ll make your family crowd around the dinner table with smiles.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Dairy Support:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Extras:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Fresh basil
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with 4 quarts of water and bring to a rolling boil. Salt the water generously and add 1 pound of ziti pasta. Cook exactly 8-9 minutes until pasta reaches al dente texture. Drain completely in a colander.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound ground beef and 2 minced garlic cloves. Break meat into small crumbles while cooking. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Cook 6-7 minutes until beef browns completely. Drain excess fat.
- Grab a mixing bowl and combine 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1 cup sour cream, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, and ½ cup Parmesan. Stir until ingredients blend smoothly.
- Spread ½ cup marinara sauce across the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Layer half the cooked ziti across the sauce. Distribute half the beef mixture evenly. Spread half the cheese mixture on top.
- Pour 1 cup marinara sauce over the first layer. Repeat layering with remaining pasta, beef, and cheese mixture. Top with remaining marinara sauce.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Slide into a preheated 375°F oven. Bake precisely 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese across the top. Return to oven and bake additional 10 minutes until cheese melts completely and turns golden.
- Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes before serving. Tear fresh basil leaves and scatter across the top for garnish if desired.
Notes
- Pasta texture matters most, so cook ziti just until al dente to prevent mushy results when baking.
- Save some pasta water before draining to help adjust sauce consistency if needed during layering.
- Choose full-fat dairy ingredients for richest flavor and creamiest texture in the cheese mixture.
- For gluten-free version, swap regular ziti with gluten-free pasta and check that all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 to 8
- Calories: 540 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg