Ultimate Baked Ziti Bliss (Layers of Cheesy Italian Comfort!)
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Ultimate Baked Ziti with layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, three types of cheese, and golden bubbly top. This crowd-pleasing Italian casserole is pure comfort food bliss!
Ingredients
Instructions
Cook ziti to al dente (2 min less than package). Drain, rinse with cool water, toss with olive oil. Set aside.
In large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high. Brown sausage and beef 4-5 min. Add onion, cook 4-5 min. Add garlic, cook 1 min.
Add crushed tomatoes, marinara, Parmesan, cream, basil, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper. Simmer 10-15 min. Remove from heat.
Preheat oven to 375°F. In bowl, mix ricotta, egg, 1 cup mozzarella, ½ cup Parmesan, basil, garlic powder, salt, pepper. Stir until slightly lumpy.
Add cooked pasta to ricotta bowl, toss. Add 3-4 spoonfuls meat sauce to pasta, stir gently.
Grease 9×13-inch dish. Spread 1 cup meat sauce on bottom. Add half pasta mixture, 1 cup mozzarella, few tbsp Parmesan, half remaining meat sauce. Add remaining pasta, remaining meat sauce, remaining 1 cup mozzarella, remaining Parmesan.
Cover with foil (spray underside). Bake 30 min covered. Uncover, bake 10-15 min until golden and bubbly. Optional: broil 1-2 min for extra browning.
Rest 10-15 min before serving. Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan.
