Description
Million dollar baked ziti combines hearty pasta with rich, creamy cheeses for an irresistible Italian-American casserole. Comfort cuisine reaches new heights with this crowd-pleasing dish you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ziti pasta
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef or Italian sausage
Cheeses:
- 1 cup (245 grams) ricotta cheese
- 1 package (8 ounces/226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Sauces and Seasonings:
- 1 jar (24 ounces/680 grams) marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 375°F (190°C) and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Cook ziti pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, following package instructions. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Brown ground beef or sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking meat into small crumbles. Drain excess fat and incorporate marinara sauce, simmering for 2-3 minutes.
- Create a creamy cheese mixture by blending ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until uniformly smooth.
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce across the bottom of the prepared baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Arrange half of the cooked ziti in an even layer, then generously spread half of the cheese mixture over the pasta.
- Pour additional meat sauce across the cheese layer, ensuring complete coverage.
- Add remaining ziti and complete the layering with the final portion of cheese mixture.
- Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese over the top, creating a generous cheese coating.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes at 375°F.
- Remove foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until cheese turns golden and sauce bubbles around edges.
- Allow the ziti to rest for 5 minutes after removing from oven, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve while warm.
Notes
- Customize meat by swapping ground beef with turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Mix different cheese types like provolone or fontina to create unique flavor profiles and add depth to the dish.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time and assemble quickly for busy weeknight meals, storing assembled casserole in refrigerator up to 24 hours before baking.
- Make dish gluten-free by using gluten-free ziti pasta and checking marinara sauce ingredients for potential gluten contamination.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 527 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg