Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Three Cheese Baked Ziti recipe. Layers of pasta, savory meat sauce, and a trio of cheeses baked to gooey perfection, creating a dish that’s sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage or ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Pasta:
Meat Sauce:
Cheese Mixture:
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti according to package directions. Drain and toss with olive oil.
- In a skillet, cook sausage, onion, and garlic until browned. Add marinara sauce, tomato sauce, seasonings, and simmer.
- Mix ricotta, egg, 1 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and parsley.
- Layer ingredients in a baking dish. Top with remaining cheeses.
- Bake covered, then uncovered until golden. Let rest before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, use a mix of hot and sweet Italian sausage.
- You can prepare ahead and refrigerate before baking—add 10 minutes to baking time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking, stovetop sauté
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
