Description
A rich and creamy pasta bake loaded with ziti noodles, savory meat sauce, and layers of ricotta, cream cheese, and mozzarella. Baked until bubbly and golden, this dish delivers indulgent flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Boil the ziti in salted water until just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, cook ground beef until browned. Drain excess grease. Stir in marinara sauce and let simmer.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta, cream cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Layer the dish: spread a layer of meat sauce, half the ziti, half the cheese mixture. Repeat layers, ending with remaining meat sauce.
- Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes