Million Dollar Baked Ziti (Printable Version)
Ziti pasta layered with creamy four-cheese blend and hearty meat sauce, baked to golden perfection.
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta
01 -
450 grams dry ziti pasta
→ Meat Sauce
02 -
450 grams Italian sausage, casings removed
03 -
1 medium onion, finely chopped (approximately 150 grams)
04 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
05 -
700 grams marinara sauce
06 -
Pinch of sugar
→ Cheese Mixture
07 -
450 grams ricotta cheese
08 -
115 grams cream cheese, softened
09 -
115 grams sour cream
10 -
225 grams shredded mozzarella cheese
11 -
60 grams grated Parmesan cheese
12 -
2 large eggs
→ Herbs
13 -
15 grams fresh basil leaves, chopped
# Steps:
01 -
Cook the ziti in boiling salted water for 2 minutes less than al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking and remove excess starch. Set aside.
02 -
In a large skillet, brown the Italian sausage with chopped onion over medium heat until meat is fully cooked and onions are translucent, approximately 7-8 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook an additional 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in marinara sauce and a pinch of sugar, then simmer for 5 minutes.
03 -
In a large mixing bowl, blend ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella (reserve some for topping), Parmesan, eggs, and chopped basil until smooth and uniformly combined.
04 -
Preheat oven to 175°C. In a greased baking dish, spread a layer of meat sauce, followed by half of the cooked pasta, then half of the cheese mixture. Repeat layering with remaining meat sauce, pasta, and cheese mixture. Sprinkle reserved mozzarella on top.
05 -
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving to set the layers.
# Notes:
01 -
Use freshly grated cheese for better melting and flavor. Rinsing pasta stops cooking to avoid mushiness. Adding a pinch of sugar balances the acidity of the marinara sauce.