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Delicious Baked Ziti

Featured in Pasta Night Made Easy.

This super cheesy and hearty ziti brings together meat sauce, tender pasta, and a mix of cheeses to delight a crowd.

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Updated on Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:54:22 GMT
Close-up of baked pasta with meat sauce, marinara, and melted cheese in a white dish. Pin it
Close-up of baked pasta with meat sauce, marinara, and melted cheese in a white dish. | cookbybook.com

I gotta tell you about my top pasta dish ever: Ultimate Cheesy Ziti! I tweaked this one through so many family get-togethers, and now everyone begs me to make it. Between the gooey cheese layers, rich meat sauce, and tender pasta, it's worth every penny of its fancy name. When it's cooking, you can't keep people out of the kitchen - they're always hanging around asking when we can eat!

What Makes This Dish Special

This goes way beyond a basic pasta dish! It's packed with four different cheeses (that's right, four!), an incredibly tasty meat sauce, and comes together more simply than you'd guess. I really love how it works for everything from casual Sunday dinners to neighborhood potlucks - it always gets compliments. Last summer my brother's wife even wanted it as her special birthday meal!

Everything You'll Need

  • Pasta: Ziti's my pick, though penne does the job too - don't skimp on quality!
  • Italian Sausage: Brings amazing flavor, but regular ground beef works wonderfully too.
  • Our Sauce: Pick a marinara you really enjoy - quality sauce makes all the difference!
  • The Cheese Squad: We're going all out with ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella, AND parmesan!
  • Eggs: They work as the perfect binder for everything.
  • Fresh Herbs: I prefer fresh basil, but parsley looks and tastes great too.

Creating Your Masterpiece

Start With Pasta
Here's what I've learned: cook it slightly underdone - it'll finish perfectly while baking!
Sauce Foundation
Cook that meat with onions until your house smells wonderful. Then throw in the garlic - it's better than any candle!
Cheese Mixture
Blend those creamy cheeses together - this is why we call it the 'million dollar' part.
Build Your Layers
Think of creating the tastiest lasagna ever. Each layer should make you smile!
Let It Bake
The toughest part is waiting while it turns golden and starts bubbling.

Insider Secrets

I've made this so many times I've picked up some tricks! Always shred cheese yourself - it melts way better than the bagged stuff. Don't forget to rinse your pasta - it keeps everything from clumping. And try adding a tiny bit of sugar to your sauce? Total game changer!

A plate of baked pasta with meat sauce, topped with melted cheese and garnished with parsley. Pin it
A plate of baked pasta with meat sauce, topped with melted cheese and garnished with parsley. | cookbybook.com

Storage Solutions

This ziti actually tastes even better after sitting in the fridge for a day or two - all those flavors really mix together! It freezes super well too - I usually make a double batch and save half for crazy weeks. Just wrap it up tight and you'll thank yourself later!

Your Own Twist

Don't be afraid to switch things up! I sometimes toss in mushrooms or spinach when I want extra veggies. Spicy Italian sausage adds great heat if you enjoy that. And feel free to play with different cheeses - my friend down the street makes an incredible version using smoked mozzarella!

Perfect Pairings

We always have this with a crisp garden salad and some buttery garlic bread to mop up the sauce. Want to make it special? Pop open some red wine - a nice Cabernet works great. For regular weeknights? Just some fizzy water with a lemon slice keeps everything balanced!

A close-up view of a baked pasta casserole topped with melted cheese and garnished with fresh parsley. Pin it
A close-up view of a baked pasta casserole topped with melted cheese and garnished with fresh parsley. | cookbybook.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why shouldn't pasta cook fully?

Stop cooking the pasta 2 minutes before it’s fully done. It’ll finish cooking in the oven and won’t turn mushy.

→ Can ricotta be swapped with cottage cheese?

Absolutely. Use 16 ounces of cottage cheese for creaminess, a slightly different texture, and extra protein.

→ What’s the reason for rinsing pasta?

Running the pasta under cold water halts cooking and clears extra starch, so it doesn’t get sticky or overdone.

→ What’s the benefit of letting it sit?

Waiting 10 minutes before digging in helps the cheese firm up, making slices easier to serve and keeps the dish from being too hot.

→ Could this be made in advance?

Put it together up to a day ahead. Keep it in the fridge, and just add 10-15 extra minutes to the bake time when taking it straight from the cold. Sprinkle on the last cheese layer right before baking.

Conclusion

This super cheesy and hearty ziti brings together meat sauce, tender pasta, and a mix of cheeses to delight a crowd.

Million Dollar Ziti

Creamy baked ziti loaded with meat sauce and four cheeses, then topped with bubbly mozzarella. A cozy, crowd-pleasing dish.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
50 Minutes
Total Time
70 Minutes
By: Susan

Category: Pasta

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 8 Servings (8 servings)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 1 pound of penne or ziti pasta.
02 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
03 1 pound of ground beef or Italian sausage.
04 1 small onion, diced finely.
05 3 cloves of garlic, minced.
06 Two jars (24 ounces each) of marinara sauce.
07 8 ounces of softened cream cheese.
08 2 large eggs.
09 15 ounces of ricotta cheese, drained.
10 1/2 cup of sour cream.
11 3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, split.
12 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
13 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
14 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper.
15 Fresh basil or parsley to garnish.

Instructions

Step 01

Set your oven to 375°F and grease a 9x13 pan. Boil pasta but stop just before al dente by about 2 minutes.

Step 02

Brown the onion and sausage together, then toss in the garlic. Add marinara once the meat’s cooked and let everything simmer for 10 minutes.

Step 03

Whip the cream cheese, then mix in the eggs, Parmesan, salt, pepper, sour cream, half the mozzarella, and ricotta until it’s smooth.

Step 04

Add 1 cup of sauce into the cheese mixture, combine with the pasta, and spread it in the pan. Layer the top with the rest of the sauce and mozzarella.

Step 05

Cover with foil (sprayed with oil). Bake 20 minutes, then remove the foil and keep baking for another 20 minutes until bubbly. Let it sit 10 minutes before digging in.

Notes

  1. You can swap ricotta with cottage cheese.
  2. Slightly undercook pasta to avoid it getting soggy.
  3. Can be prepped ahead and chilled in the fridge.

Tools You'll Need

  • A 9x13 pan.
  • Big skillet.
  • Large pot.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy.
  • Includes eggs.
  • Has gluten.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 505
  • Total Fat: 28 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 45 g
  • Protein: 25 g