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Million Dollar Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food that tastes like a million bucks! It’s packed with layers of tender noodles, ground meat, spaghetti sauce, and plenty of cheesy goodness. There is something for the whole family in this hearty, crowd-pleasing dish!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps make this Million Dollar baked ziti recipe a breeze.
- Rich & Creamy: A luscious blend of cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, and mozzarella makes every bite irresistible.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prep it in advance and have a ready-to-go meal. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends!
Your Kids Will Love It
This million dollar baked Ziti is SO delicious! It’s super kid-friendly because of how creamy it is. I’m so tired of spending time in the kitchen making dinner, and my kids don’t like it. They absolutely loved this recipe! It’s like a super saucy, creamy, cheesy spaghetti, but baked. It’s an easy casserole recipe that you can make ahead or even make into a freezer meal. I have instructions for both below!
Ingredients for Million Dollar Baked Ziti
How to Make Million Dollar Baked Ziti
Whether you’re hosting guests or just craving a comforting family dinner, this meal is always a hit! As an added plus, it’s very kid-friendly. My kids beg for it on repeat! It’s really a complete meal all on its own, but I love to serve it with a simple caesar salad and garlic bread.
- Boil the Pasta: Preheat the oven to 350ºF and spray a 6-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the ziti according to the instructions on the package. Drain and set aside.
- Brown the Meat: Meanwhile, cook the Italian sausage and ground beef in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until no pink remains.
- Add Garlic: Drain off the fat and add the garlic. Cook for about 2 minutes.
- Add Sauce and Simmer: Adding the spaghetti sauce and Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer over medium heat before reducing the heat to lower and simmering for 10 minutes.
- Make the Cheese Mixture: Add the cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and 1 cup of the mozzarella to a medium bowl. Beat with a hand mixer until combined.
- Add Mixture to Sauce: Add the cottage cheese mixture to the meat sauce.
- Stir and Combine: Stir until it has all melted and combined.
- Mix in the Noodles: Stir the cooked ziti noodles into the sauce. Pour everything into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake: Top with the remaining 1 ½ cups of mozzarella cheese. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the cheese is melted and browned on top. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve.
Tips for Perfect Million Dollar Baked Ziti
Million dollar baked ziti is a family favorite you’re sure to love! Here are some tips to ensure the best results when making this easy Italian dish.
- Can I cut the recipe in half? If you want to make this recipe for a smaller amount of people (5-6), cut all the ingredients in half and bake it in a 3 or 4-quart baking dish for about 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and browning.
- Taste Before Seasoning! Taste the sauce before mixing in the noodles. Season with salt and pepper if desired. I didn’t feel it needed any, but you may add salt and pepper to taste if you would like.
- Can I switch up the meat? I used 1 pound of Italian sausage and 1 pound of ground beef for this recipe. But you may use ground turkey, ground chicken, or spicy Italian sausage if you would prefer!
- Do I have to use cottage cheese? If you don’t like cottage cheese, don’t worry! It melts away completely and adds a delicious tang to the sauce. If you still don’t want to use cottage cheese, you may replace it with plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Pasta Perfection! If you prefer your pasta to be more al dente, I recommend cooking it only half of the suggested cooking time on the pasta package. The noodles will continue to cook in the oven as the pasta bakes, so this will prevent them from becoming too soft.
Leftovers and Make Ahead Tips
One of the many things I love about baked ziti is that it’s a great make-ahead and freezer-friendly meal! You can assemble it in advance, store it in the fridge or freezer, and bake it when you’re ready. A delicious, hassle-free option that delivers major flavor!
- In the Refrigerator: Store leftover million dollar ziti bake in an airtight container or cover tightly with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 7 days.
- To Reheat: Heat individual portions in the microwave for 1-1 ½ minutes or the whole pan in a preheated oven set to 350ºF for 15-20 minutes until heated through or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
- Make Ahead: This recipe can be prepared the day before and stored covered in the fridge until you are ready to bake it. Add 15-20 minutes of cooking time to account for it being cold when it goes in the oven. Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165ºF before serving.
Freezer Meal Instructions
If you are looking to save time and the hassle of deciding what to make for dinner, make a double batch and freeze one to have for later.
- Preparation: To prepare this as a freezer meal, follow instructions through step 7 and cover it tightly with plastic wrap and a couple of layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Bake From Thawed: Let it thaw in the fridge for at least 24 hours before baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45-50 minutes.
- Bake from Frozen: Alternatively, bake it directly from frozen by covering it with aluminum foil and baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 60-75 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
More Baked Pasta Recipes
I absolutely love baked pasta! It’s the perfect dish for feeding a crowd, meal prepping, or just a cozy, homemade meal. Here are some of my family’s favorites that you’re sure to love, too!
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and spray a 6-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
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Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the ziti according to the instructions on the package. Drain and set aside.
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Meanwhile, cook the Italian sausage and ground beef in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until no pink remains.
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Drain off the fat and add the garlic. Cook for about 2 minutes before adding the spaghetti sauce and Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer over medium heat before reducing the heat to lower and simmering for 10 minutes.
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Add the cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and 1 cup of mozzarella to a medium bowl and beat with a hand mixer until combined.
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Add the cheese mixture to the sauce and stir until it has all melted and combined.
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Stir the cooked ziti noodles into the sauce before pouring it all into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining 2 cups of mozzarella.
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Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the cheese is melted and browned on top. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve.
Calories: 538kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 29gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 1134mgPotassium: 730mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1024IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 224mgIron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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