Description
Zipping through this Million Dollar Baked Ziti makes dinner feel like a warm hug from your favorite Italian grandmother. Cheesy, hearty layers of pasta and rich sauce create pure comfort that brings your whole family running to the table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic
Seasonings and Garnish:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Fresh basil
Instructions
- Warm up your oven to 375°F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, ensuring every corner gets covered.
- Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook 1 lb ziti pasta until it’s tender but firm, typically 8-10 minutes. Drain completely and set aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté 2 minced garlic cloves until they release their fragrant aroma, about 1 minute.
- Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet. Break the meat into small crumbles while cooking until no pink remains. Drain excess grease.
- Pour 24 oz marinara sauce into the skillet with browned beef. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer the mixture for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In a separate bowl, blend 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1 cup sour cream, and 1 cup shredded mozzarella until smooth and creamy.
- Layer half the cooked ziti across the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Spread the entire cheese mixture evenly over the pasta.
- Add remaining ziti on top of the cheese layer. Pour the entire meat sauce over the pasta, covering every inch.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and ½ cup Parmesan cheese across the top of the dish.
- Cover the baking dish with foil. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let the ziti rest for 5-10 minutes. This helps the dish set and makes serving easier.
- Optional: Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving for a pop of color and fresh flavor.
Notes
- Salt the pasta water generously to ensure the ziti has flavor from the start.
- Let the baked ziti rest after cooking so the cheeses set and make cutting easier.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for beef and use part-skim ricotta.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time to make assembly quick and stress-free during busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 470 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg