Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways
- Why You’ll Love This Easy Recipe
- The Story Behind This Comfort Food Favorite
- Perfect for Dinner Recipes That Impress
- Quick and Easy Recipes for Busy Nights
- Tips to Elevate Your Million Dollar Baked Ziti
- Recipe Overview
- Notes & Tips
Key Takeaways
This Million Dollar Baked Ziti is one of those easy recipes that delivers serious flavor with minimal effort. It’s creamy, cheesy, comforting, and absolutely perfect for both casual weeknights and special gatherings. With layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, and a luscious cheese blend, it’s the kind of meal that disappears fast from the table!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Recipe
At Patricia Universe, we love recipes that bring families together—and this easy recipe does just that. From the first bite, you’ll taste the creamy layers of ricotta and sour cream paired with melty mozzarella and hearty beef. This dish is the kind of dinner recipe that always gets requested again. And since it uses pantry staples, it’s great for last-minute meal plans!
The Story Behind This Comfort Food Favorite
This baked ziti recipe was inspired by the need for cozy, feel-good meals that don’t require professional chef skills. At Patricia Universe, we believe easy recipes should taste like they took all day—just like this one. Whether you’re serving a family dinner or preparing freezer meals, this ziti has a way of becoming a household legend.
Perfect for Dinner Recipes That Impress
One of the best things about this baked ziti is that it looks and tastes like a million bucks—without the work. It’s ideal for dinner recipes that need to satisfy picky eaters and impress guests. The layers of flavor are rich and satisfying, and it’s easy to prepare ahead of time, too.
Quick and Easy Recipes for Busy Nights
If you’re on the hunt for quick and easy recipes, this one deserves a top spot in your rotation. It takes less than an hour from start to finish, making it a go-to for busy weeknights or make-ahead meal prep. Just bake, serve, and watch the compliments roll in.
Tips to Elevate Your Million Dollar Baked Ziti
Want to make this dish even better? Swap ground beef with Italian sausage for added spice, or toss in some fresh spinach for extra nutrition. You can even make it a vegetarian comfort food by skipping the meat and adding sautéed mushrooms or roasted veggies. Whatever twist you try, the result will be a standout among food receipt easy recipes.
Recipe Overview
Million Dollar Baked Ziti combines cheesy potatoes easy recipe vibes with rich pasta flavors. It’s creamy, savory, and hits every note of a comfort classic. Perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping, and it pairs beautifully with garlic bread and a simple green salad.
Notes & Tips
This dish freezes well and can be assembled a day in advance. Just cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to bake. For extra golden cheese on top, broil for 2–3 minutes at the end. Add a sprinkle of chopped parsley for a fresh pop of color.
Million Dollar Baked Ziti – Easy Recipes Comfort Classic
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 5 minutes, then season with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Add cooked pasta to the cheese mixture and stir until well combined.
- Spread half the pasta mixture in the prepared baking dish. Top with half the meat sauce.
- Repeat layers with remaining pasta and sauce. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with chopped parsley before serving, if desired.
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