Description
Million Dollar Baked Ziti is a creamy, cheesy baked pasta layered with marinara sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan for the ultimate comfort food dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces ziti pasta
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until soft. Add ground beef or sausage if using and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer briefly to blend flavors.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, half of the Parmesan, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a baking dish.
- Layer half of the cooked ziti, half of the ricotta mixture, half of the mozzarella, and half of the sauce in the dish.
- Repeat layers with remaining ingredients, finishing with mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10–15 minutes more until bubbly and golden. Rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Do not overcook the pasta before baking.
- Use whole milk ricotta for a creamier texture.
- Let the baked ziti rest before slicing.
- Keep covered during initial baking to prevent drying.
- Broil briefly for a crispier cheese topping if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg