Baked Ziti Oamc
Discover the ultimate comfort food with this hearty and satisfying Baked Ziti OAMC (Once-A-Month Cooking) recipe, perfect for meal prepping or feeding a crowd. This indulgent casserole combines tender ziti pasta layered with a rich, flavorful meat sauce featuring ground beef and Italian sausage, and a creamy ricotta cheese mixture infused with Italian seasoning. Topped with bubbling layers of melted mozzarella and Parmesan, this dish bakes to golden perfection in just 60 minutes. Ideal for busy weeknights or as a freezer-friendly meal, this baked ziti is a versatile, make-ahead favorite that's guaranteed to become a family staple. Serve it with a crisp side salad and garlic bread for a classic Italian-inspired dinner everyone will adore.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 16 ounces ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 48 ounces marinara sauce
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1.5 cups Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cook the ziti pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until just al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the ground beef and Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.
Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet with the cooked meat mixture. Stir to combine and let simmer on low heat for 5 minutes.
In a separate mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 2 cups of shredded mozzarella, 1 cup of grated Parmesan, the egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to create the cheese filling.
In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom to prevent sticking.
Add half of the cooked ziti pasta in an even layer over the sauce.
Spoon half of the cheese filling over the pasta and spread gently. Top with half of the remaining meat sauce.
Repeat the layering with the remaining ziti, cheese filling, and meat sauce.
Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of shredded mozzarella and 0.5 cups of Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
If freezing, let the baked ziti cool completely after baking. Wrap the dish tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Label and freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
7232 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 426.8 g | 547% | |
| Saturated Fat | 188.8 g | 944% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 25.6 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 1613 mg | 538% | |
| Sodium | 13212 mg | 574% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 451.1 g | 164% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 38.2 g | 136% | |
| Total Sugars | 63.9 g | ||
| Protein | 426.4 g | 853% | |
| Vitamin D | 5.7 mcg | 29% | |
| Calcium | 6633 mg | 510% | |
| Iron | 37.8 mg | 210% | |
| Potassium | 3527 mg | 75% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
