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Million Dollar Baked Ziti: The Ultimate Cheesy Pasta Bake

A hearty slice of baked ziti style pasta bake with rich meat sauce and a golden, bubbly cheese topping.
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Make the Million Dollar Baked Ziti, a rich and creamy pasta bake loaded with savory meat and layers of gooey cheese. This recipe delivers ultimate comfort food flavor and is perfect for family dinners or potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ziti pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is soft. Drain off any excess fat.
  4. Stir the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper into the beef mixture. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  5. In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese until combined.
  6. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, the meat sauce, and the ricotta mixture. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated. Add the 1/4 cup of water to help keep the bake moist.
  7. Spread half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese.
  8. Top with the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese over the top layer.
  9. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned.
  10. Let the pasta bake rest for 10 minutes before you cut and serve it.

Notes

  • For a make-ahead option, assemble the entire dish, cover it tightly with foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add about 10-15 minutes to the covered baking time if baking straight from the refrigerator.
  • If you want a richer flavor, substitute half of the ground beef with ground Italian sausage.
  • You can use rigatoni or penne pasta if ziti is unavailable for this easy pasta bake recipe.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yumdrizzle.com/best-pasta-bake-million-dollar-ziti-recipe/