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5.0 from 150 votes

Baked Ziti

Delicious, Creamy, Flavorful Baked Ziti

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 503 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Dinner
Cuisine: Italian , American

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground meat beef, or turkey
  • 1 lb ground Italian sausage I like to mix sweet and hot
  • 1 small red pepper diced small
  • 1 small green pepper diced small
  • 1 small yellow onion diced small
  • 8 garlic cloves minced
For the Sauce
  • 1 oz jar of pasta sauce any brand we will do! We will hook it up!
  • 1 oz can of crushed tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
  • 2 tsps salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsps garlic powder
  • 1 tsps onion powder
  • 2 tsps Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsps sugar
  • 2 tbsps basil chopped
For the Ziti Bake
  • 1 box Ziti pasta
  • 16 oz ricotta cheese
  • 2 tsps salt
  • 1 tsps black pepper
  • 2 tsps garlic powder
  • 2 tbsps chopped basil
Cheese
  • 3 cups Mozarella cheese shredded and divided

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Cook the ziti pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook Italian sausage and ground beef until browned and cooked through. Add diced onions, peppers, and garlic.
  4. After browning and cooking the meat, add crushed tomatoes, pasta sauce, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, basil, spices and sugar. Stir everything to combine and let the sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes. Taste your sauce. If needed, add additional salt.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti pasta, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of your shredded mozzarella cheese, and spices. Mix well. Spoon 3-4 spoonfuls of meat sauce into the mixture and stir. Your ziti mixture should be creamy and fully coated. Make sure to leave pasta sauce for layering.
  6. Spoon a thin layer of the meat sauce into the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish.
  7. Add half of the ziti mixture to the dish on top of the meat sauce. Spread it out evenly. Add a thin layer of cheese on top.
  8. Spoon another layer of meat sauce on top of the ziti mixture, then sprinkle with mozzarella. Cover the ziti and bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Broil at the end uncovered for a golden cheese top finish. Be careful not to burn!
  9. Remove from the oven and let the ziti cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information

Calories 503kcal (25%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 503

% Daily Value*

Calories 503kcal 25%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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