Description
A hearty and comforting dish with layers of pasta, Italian sausage, beef, and rich cheese, perfect for family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz ziti pasta
- 2 jars marinara sauce
- 15 oz diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 egg
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil ziti in salted water until it is just firm to the bite. Drain well and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper. Cook until soft.
- Add the Italian sausage and ground beef to the skillet. Cook until browned, breaking apart with a spoon. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in the marinara sauce, drained diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder. Let it simmer briefly to blend flavors.
- Add the cooked ziti to the sauce mixture, stirring well to coat evenly.
- Mix the ricotta cheese with the egg until smooth in a bowl.
- In a baking dish, layer half of the pasta and sauce mixture, then dollop half of the ricotta mixture. Repeat with the remaining pasta and ricotta.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for about 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until cheese is hot and bubbling.
- Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Allowing the baked ziti to rest before serving helps the flavors settle and makes it easier to serve.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 80mg