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Million Dollar Baked Ziti Recipe

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This Million Dollar Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food, featuring layers of pasta, rich marinara sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey melted cheese. It's a family favorite that tastes like a million bucks!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ziti pasta
  • 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
  • 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • Cook ziti according to package instructions; drain and set aside.
  • In a large skillet, cook ground beef or sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease.
  • Add garlic, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  • In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, and half of the Parmesan cheese.
  • Layer half of the cooked ziti in the baking dish. Spread the cheese mixture over the pasta.
  • Add half of the meat sauce, then the remaining pasta, and the rest of the sauce.
  • Sprinkle mozzarella and the remaining Parmesan cheese on top.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
  • Let cool for 10 minutes, garnish with parsley, and serve.

Notes

  • Use Italian sausage for extra flavor.
  • Substitute cottage cheese for ricotta if needed.
  • Make ahead and refrigerate before baking for an easy meal prep option.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://camilarecipes.com/million-dollar-baked-ziti-recipe/