Million Dollar Baked Ziti Recipe
Indulge in the rich, creamy, and cheesy Million Dollar Baked Ziti, packed with flavorful layers of pasta, marinara sauce, and creamy ricotta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: dinner
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ziti pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, cook ground beef or sausage until browned. Drain excess fat and mix with marinara sauce.
- In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, cream cheese, half of the mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- In a greased 9x13-inch baking dish, layer half of the pasta, half of the meat sauce, and half of the cheese mixture. Repeat the layers.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired. Serve hot!
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey for a leaner option.
- Use gluten-free pasta if needed for dietary preferences.
- Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of dish
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
Find it online: https://simplerecipee.com/million-dollar-baked-ziti-recipe/