Creamy Cheesy Baked Ziti (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta
01 -
1 lb ziti pasta
02 -
1 tablespoon salt for boiling water
→ Sauce
03 -
1 tablespoon olive oil
04 -
1 small onion, diced
05 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
06 -
1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
07 -
1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
08 -
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
09 -
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 -
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11 -
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Creamy Ricotta Mixture
12 -
1 cup ricotta cheese
13 -
1/2 cup sour cream
14 -
1 large egg
15 -
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
16 -
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
17 -
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Topping
18 -
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
19 -
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
20 -
2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, chopped
# Instructions:
01 -
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
02 -
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 -
Add ground beef or sausage to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
04 -
Stir in marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 5 minutes and remove from heat.
05 -
In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, sour cream, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix until smooth.
06 -
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread ½ cup marinara sauce on the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Add half of the cooked pasta in an even layer, followed by half of the ricotta mixture, and half of the remaining marinara sauce. Repeat these layers with the remaining pasta, ricotta mixture, and marinara sauce.
07 -
Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
08 -
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown.
09 -
Let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley before serving.
# Notes:
01 -
Make it extra creamy by adding ½ cup heavy cream to the sauce.
02 -
For a vegetarian version, substitute the meat with sautéed mushrooms or spinach.
03 -
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.