Description
Creamy, cheesy Million Dollar Baked Ziti delivers Italian comfort straight to your dinner table. Layered with rich marinara, melted mozzarella, and hearty pasta, this crowd-pleasing dish will become your new family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ziti pasta
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef or Italian sausage
Cheese and Dairy:
- 2 cups (470 milliliters) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) ricotta cheese
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) sour cream
- 1 block (8 ounces/226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) grated Parmesan cheese
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 jar (24 ounces/680 grams) marinara sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 375°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Boil ziti pasta until perfectly tender, ensuring it maintains a slight firmness. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Brown ground meat in a skillet, incorporating minced garlic for depth of flavor. Remove excess fat and combine with marinara sauce, creating a rich meat mixture.
- Create a creamy cheese blend by whisking ricotta, sour cream, cream cheese, half the Parmesan, and Italian seasoning until smooth and well-integrated.
- Construct the casserole in strategic layers: spread a base of pasta, followed by an even layer of cheese mixture, then generously cover with meat sauce. Repeat the layering process for maximum flavor distribution.
- Crown the casserole with mozzarella and remaining Parmesan cheese, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and cheese to begin melting.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until the top turns golden and edges become crispy and bubbling.
- Allow the ziti to rest for 5 minutes, enabling the layers to set and making serving easier. Sprinkle fresh parsley for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- Customize meat options by swapping ground beef with turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter version.
- Enhance flavor by adding fresh herbs like basil or oregano directly into the cheese mixture for extra depth.
- Make ahead and refrigerate assembled dish for up to 24 hours before baking, perfect for meal prep or entertaining.
- Create a gluten-free alternative by using gluten-free pasta and checking marinara sauce ingredients for hidden gluten.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 630 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg