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Million Dollar Baked Ziti Recipe

Million Dollar Baked Ziti Recipe
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4.6 from 7 reviews

Indulge in the rich and comforting flavors of this Million Dollar Baked Ziti recipe. Layers of pasta, savory meat sauce, creamy cheeses, and aromatic seasonings, baked to perfection for a truly satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Pasta:

  • 1 pound ziti pasta

Meat Sauce:

  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce

Cheese Mixture:

  • 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Toppings:

  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook pasta: Cook the ziti according to package directions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
  3. Prepare meat sauce: In a skillet, cook the ground beef or sausage until browned. Drain excess fat, then stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
  4. Make cheese mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  5. Layer ingredients: Spread a layer of meat sauce in a greased baking dish. Layer ziti, cheese mixture, meat sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Repeat layers.
  6. Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
  7. Rest and serve: Let the dish rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Notes

  • You can assemble the dish a day ahead and refrigerate. Substitute cottage cheese for ricotta if preferred.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://easy-tapas-recipes.com/million-dollar-baked-ziti-recipe/