Description
A rich and creamy baked ziti loaded with cheese, meat, and a savory tomato sauce. A crowd-pleasing dish perfect for gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ziti according to package instructions, drain, and set aside.
- Brown ground beef and Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan, egg, and parsley.
- Combine cooked ziti with the meat sauce, then fold in the cheese mixture.
- Transfer to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Substitute ground turkey for a lighter version.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Freeze before baking for a make-ahead meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: baked ziti, pasta, Italian, comfort food, cheesy