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Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti Italian Pasta Casserole
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If you love Italian food then you will love this Baked Ziti casserole! Layered with pasta, marinara sauce, ground beef, Italian sausage , and three types of cheese, it’s sure to be a family favorite at your home.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 Lb. Ziti or Penne Pasta
  • 1 Lb. Lean Ground Beef (85/15)
  • 1 Lb. Ground Mild Italian Sausage
  • 1 Sweet Onion (diced)
  • 2 Tbsp. Garlic (minced)
  • 2 Tsp. Salt (divided)
  • 1/2 Tsp. Black pepper
  • 5 Cups Marinara Sauce
  • 1 Tsp. Basil
  • 1/2 Tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1 Tbsp. Sugar
  • 1 Cup Ricotta Cheese
  • 2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (divided)
  • 1 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (divided)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Fill a large pot with water (¾ full) and bring it to a boil. Once water is boiling, add in 1 tsp. of salt, then add pasta.  Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain.
  3. In a Dutch oven on medium heat, add ground beef, sausage, and onion, and cook until meat is browned and onions are softened.  Add minced garlic, 1 tsp. salt and pepper, and sauté another minute.  Add marinara sauce, basil, red pepper flakes, and sugar.  Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for about 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
  4. Pour about ½ cup of the meat sauce mixture and spread evenly on the bottom of a pre-greased 9×13 deep casserole dish.
  5. Then spoon ricotta cheese into the remaining meat sauce mixture, add the drained cooked pasta and stir a little until the pasta is coated (do not over mix).
  6. Spoon in half of the pasta mixture into the casserole dish. Top with ½ of the shredded mozzarella cheese and ½ of the grated parmesan cheese. Add the remaining pasta mixture and top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan.
  7. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 25 minutes.  Let cool for 5 minutes, then garnish with fresh basil and serve.

Find it online: https://www.shotgunred.com/recipes/baked-ziti/