Name: Million Dollar Baked Ziti
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound ziti pasta; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound ground Italian sausage or ground beef; 2 cups marinara sauce; 1 cup ricotta cheese; 1 cup sour cream; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided; 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional); Salt and pepper to taste; Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

Description

This Million Dollar Baked Ziti is a creamy, cheesy, and comforting dish that combines ziti pasta with savory sausage, a rich blend of ricotta and sour cream, and a hearty marinara sauce. Topped with mozzarella and Parmesan, this baked ziti is sure to be a hit with the whole family!

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound ziti pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground Italian sausage or ground beef
2 cups marinara sauce
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cook the ziti pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground Italian sausage (or ground beef) and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon.
Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5-10 minutes to combine the flavors.
In a large bowl, mix the cooked ziti pasta with the ricotta cheese, sour cream, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
Add the sausage and marinara sauce mixture to the pasta and stir to combine.
Transfer the pasta mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.

Notes

For a lighter version, you can substitute the sour cream with Greek yogurt.
Add extra veggies like spinach or mushrooms for a more nutritious twist.
You can make this recipe ahead of time and refrigerate it before baking.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian