Million Dollar Baked Ziti

Million Dollar Baked Ziti

from insanelygoodrecipes.com
70 min

This million dollar baked ziti features a decadent combination of four cheeses, meat sauce, and tender pasta. It's creamy, cheesy and oh-so-comforting.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dry ziti or penne pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage or ground beef
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 (24 ounce) jars marinara sauce
  • 1 (8 ounce) block cream cheese, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese, drained
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Fresh parsley or basil, chopped, for garnish

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 375°Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

  2. 2

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until 2 minutes before al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, drain again, and set aside.

  3. 3

    Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and onion and cook, stirring constantly, until the meat is no longer pink. Break it apart with a wooden spoon into crumbles as it cooks.

  4. 4

    Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Then, mix in both jars of marinara sauce and let it simmer gently on low heat for 10 minutes to combine the flavors.

  5. 5

    While the sauce simmers, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Blend in the eggs, followed by the ricotta cheese, sour cream, half of the mozzarella, all of the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and well-blended.

  6. 6

    Mix about 1 cup of the sauce into the cheese mix until smooth. Gently stir the cooked pasta into the mixture until well coated.

  7. 7

    Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Top with the remaining sauce and mozzarella cheese.

  8. 8

    Spray a sheet of foil lightly with cooking spray and cover the dish. Bake for 20 minutes, remove the foil, and bake again for another 20 minutes. It’s ready when the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.

  9. 9

    Remove the ziti from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or basil for a fresh and colorful finish. Enjoy!