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Nicole's Best Baked Ziti
Nicole's Best Baked Ziti
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Prep Time:
25 minutes
Cook Time:
50 minutes
Total Time:
85 minutes
Savor a crowd-pleasing, flavorful baked ziti with Italian sausage that won't break the bank.
Ingredients:
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 (16 ounce) package ziti pasta
  • 0.75 pound ground Italian sausage
  • 0.75 pound ground sirloin
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 0.75 teaspoon ground pepper, divided
  • 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 (24 ounce) jars marinara sauce
  • 0.5 cup water
  • 1 (15 ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 0.75 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
  • 1.5 (8 ounce) packages mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions:
  • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • 1. Boil a large pot of water, then add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt and stir in the pasta. Cook until slightly underdone, around 8 minutes (1 to 2 minutes less than package instructions).
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook sausage and beef until browned, about 5 minutes. Add onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes; cook until onion is soft, 3 to 5 minutes.
  • After draining the pasta, place it back in the pot and mix in approximately 1/2 cup of marinara sauce. Gently toss to ensure the pasta is evenly coated, then let it sit until you're ready to use it.
  • Pour the rest of the marinara sauce into the browned meat. Then fill each empty jar with 1/4 cup water, shake well to get all the sauce out, and pour into the skillet. Stir and bring to a simmer. Cook on medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Combine creamy ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup savory Parmesan cheese, one egg, fresh parsley, basil, and the final 1/4 teaspoon of both salt and pepper in a mixing bowl.
  • Toss the pasta with 2 cups of delicious meat sauce until well coated.
  • Start by evenly layering half a cup of meat sauce at the base of the prepared baking dish. Follow by adding half of the pasta mixture and topping it with 2 cups of meat sauce. Then, gently spoon and spread the ricotta mixture over the top and evenly sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese. Proceed by adding the remaining pasta mixture, the rest of the meat sauce, and the remaining mozzarella on top. Finish by sprinkling the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese evenly.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until beautifully golden and bubbly for 25-30 minutes. Allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

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