Description
Million dollar baked ziti brings comfort and nostalgia to pasta lovers everywhere. Creamy cheese, hearty marinara, and perfectly cooked pasta create a memorable Italian-American classic you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein Base:
- 1 pound Italian sausage or ground beef
- 2 large eggs
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 3 cups (divided) mozzarella cheese, shredded
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 1 pound ziti or penne pasta
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (24-ounce) jars marinara sauce
Seasonings and Other Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375°F and lightly coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook pasta slightly undercooked, about 2 minutes less than package instructions for al dente texture.
- In a large skillet, brown sausage with diced onions until meat is fully cooked and onions are translucent.
- Add minced garlic to the meat mixture and pour in marinara sauce, allowing it to simmer and develop flavors for 10 minutes.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whip cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Incorporate eggs into the cream cheese, then gently fold in ricotta, sour cream, half the mozzarella, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.
- Mix 1 cup of prepared meat sauce into the cheese mixture to create a rich, uniform blend.
- Fold cooked pasta into the cheese and sauce mixture, ensuring even coating.
- Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Top the pasta with remaining meat sauce and sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the dish with greased aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbling.
- Allow the ziti to rest for 10 minutes before serving to set and enhance flavors.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection Cook ziti slightly under al dente to prevent mushy texture when baking, ensuring perfect pasta consistency.
- Cheese Blend Tip Soften cream cheese at room temperature for smoother mixing and more even distribution throughout the dish.
- Sausage Selection Use spicy Italian sausage for extra flavor kick or swap with ground turkey for a leaner protein option.
- Make-Ahead Magic Assemble casserole up to 24 hours in advance, refrigerate, and bake directly from cold for convenient meal prep.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg