Description
Ready to upgrade your pasta night? This Million Dollar Baked Ziti is loaded with savory beef marinara, a whipped ricotta-sour cream layer, and topped with a molten mix of mozzarella and cheddar. It’s the ultimate cozy dinner idea—quick enough for a weeknight and bold enough for a special gathering. Whether you’re meal prepping or feeding a crowd, this easy dinner recipe delivers rich flavor, melty cheese, and comfort in every bite.
Ingredients
1 pound rigatoni pasta
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups marinara sauce
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Boil the rigatoni in salted water, stopping 2 minutes before fully cooked.
2. In a skillet, brown ground beef with onion and garlic until no pink remains. Stir in marinara and simmer 10 minutes.
3. Mix ricotta with sour cream, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl.
4. In a greased baking dish, layer half the sauce, half the pasta, all the ricotta mix, then remaining pasta and sauce.
5. Pour heavy cream over everything. Top with mozzarella and cheddar.
6. Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.
7. Remove foil and broil for 3-5 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Notes
Use rigatoni instead of ziti for better sauce grip.
Let it rest 10 minutes after baking for easier slicing.
Add a dash of crushed red pepper to the sauce if you like a little heat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: baked ziti, easy dinner, pasta casserole, million dollar pasta, comfort food