Description
Indulge in this decadent Million Dollar Baked Ziti, a cheesy and comforting dish that’s perfect for any occasion. Layers of pasta, creamy cheeses, savory meat sauce, and gooey melted mozzarella will make this a family favorite!
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 lb ziti pasta
Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or pasta sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese Mixture:
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook Pasta: Cook ziti pasta until al dente; drain and set aside.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: Cook ground beef or sausage, then add pasta sauce, seasonings, and simmer.
- Make Cheese Mixture: Combine cream cheese, ricotta, sour cream, and mozzarella.
- Assemble Dish: Layer pasta, cheese mixture, and meat sauce in a baking dish.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake, then remove foil and bake until bubbly and golden.
- Rest and Garnish: Let it rest before serving and garnish with parsley.
Notes
- You can substitute cottage cheese for ricotta or add spinach for extra nutrition.
- This dish freezes well before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
