Million Greenback Baked Ziti – The Recipe Critic

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Million Greenback Baked Ziti is the final consolation meals that tastes like one million bucks! It’s filled with layers of tender noodles, floor meat, spaghetti sauce, and loads of tacky goodness. There’s one thing for the entire household on this hearty, crowd-pleasing dish!

Causes You’ll Love This Recipe

Straightforward to Make: Easy elements and simple steps make this Million Greenback baked ziti recipe a breeze.
Wealthy & Creamy: A luscious mix of cottage cheese, cream cheese, bitter cream, and mozzarella makes each chew irresistible.
Make-Forward Pleasant: Prep it prematurely and have a ready-to-go meal. Excellent for busy weeknights or lazy weekends!

Your Youngsters Will Love It

This million greenback baked Ziti is SO scrumptious! It’s tremendous kid-friendly due to how creamy it’s. I’m so bored with spending time within the kitchen making dinner, and my children don’t prefer it. They completely cherished this recipe! It’s like a brilliant saucy, creamy, tacky spaghetti, however baked. It’s a simple casserole recipe which you could make forward and even make right into a freezer meal. I’ve directions for each under!

Elements for Million Greenback Baked Ziti

The way to Make Million Greenback Baked Ziti

Whether or not you’re internet hosting visitors or simply craving a comforting household dinner, this meal is all the time successful! As an added plus, it’s very kid-friendly. My children beg for it on repeat! It’s actually an entire meal all by itself, however I like to serve it with a easy 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 put aside. Carry a big pot of water to a boil and cook dinner the ziti in keeping with the directions on the package deal. Drain and put aside.
Brown the Meat: In the meantime, cook dinner the Italian sausage and floor beef in a big, deep skillet over medium-high warmth till no pink stays.
Add Garlic: Drain off the fats and add the garlic. Prepare dinner for about 2 minutes.
Add Sauce and Simmer: Including the spaghetti sauce and Italian seasoning. Carry to a simmer over medium warmth earlier than decreasing the warmth to decrease and simmering for 10 minutes.
Make the Cheese Combination: Add the cream cheese, cottage cheese, bitter cream, and 1 cup of the mozzarella to a medium bowl. Beat with a hand mixer till mixed.
Add Combination to Sauce: Add the cottage cheese combination to the meat sauce.
Stir and Mix: Stir till it has all melted and mixed.
Combine within the Noodles: Stir the cooked ziti noodles into the sauce. Pour every part into the ready baking dish.
Bake: Prime with the remaining 1 ½ cups of mozzarella cheese. Bake for 35-40 minutes, till the cheese is melted and browned on prime. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve.

Overhead shot of cooked ziti noodles in a colander.

Overhead shot of ground beef and Italian sausage cooking in a skillet.

Ideas for Excellent Million Greenback Baked Ziti

Million greenback baked ziti is a household favourite you’re certain to like! Listed below are some suggestions to make sure the most effective outcomes when making this simple Italian dish.

Can I reduce the recipe in half? If you wish to make this recipe for a smaller quantity of individuals (5-6), reduce all of the elements in half and bake it in a 3 or 4-quart baking dish for about half-hour till the cheese is melted and browning.
Style Earlier than Seasoning! Style the sauce earlier than mixing within the noodles. Season with salt and pepper if desired. I didn’t really feel it wanted any, however it’s possible you’ll add salt and pepper to style if you need.
Can I change up the meat? I used 1 pound of Italian sausage and 1 pound of floor beef for this recipe. However it’s possible you’ll use floor turkey, floor rooster, or spicy Italian sausage for those who would like!
Do I’ve to make use of cottage cheese? If you happen to don’t like cottage cheese, don’t fear! It melts away utterly and provides a scrumptious tang to the sauce. If you happen to nonetheless don’t wish to use cottage cheese, it’s possible you’ll substitute it with plain Greek yogurt or bitter cream.
Pasta Perfection! If you happen to choose your pasta to be extra al dente, I like to recommend cooking it solely half of the prompt cooking time on the pasta package deal. The noodles will proceed to cook dinner within the oven because the pasta bakes, so this can forestall them from changing into too tender.

Overhead shot of million dollar baked ziti with a wooden serving spoon getting a scoop out.

Leftovers and Make Forward Ideas

One of many many issues I like about baked ziti is that it’s an amazing make-ahead and freezer-friendly meal! You’ll be able to assemble it prematurely, retailer it within the fridge or freezer, and bake it while you’re prepared. A scrumptious, hassle-free possibility that delivers main taste!

Within the Fridge: Retailer leftover million greenback ziti bake in an hermetic container or cowl tightly with plastic wrap within the fridge for as much as 7 days.
To Reheat: Warmth particular person parts within the microwave for 1-1 ½ minutes or the entire pan in a preheated oven set to 350ºF for 15-20 minutes till heated by or till the interior temperature reaches 165ºF.
Make Forward: This recipe will be ready the day earlier than and saved lined within the fridge till you’re able to bake it. Add 15-20 minutes of cooking time to account for it being chilly when it goes within the oven. Be sure the interior temperature reaches 165ºF earlier than serving.

Overhead shot of plated million dollar baked ziti.

Freezer Meal Directions

In case you are trying to save time and the trouble of deciding what to make for dinner, make a double batch and freeze one to have for later.

Preparation: To organize this as a freezer meal, comply with directions by step 7 and canopy it tightly with plastic wrap and a few layers of professional quality aluminum foil. Freeze for as much as 3 months.
Bake From Thawed: Let it thaw within the fridge for at the least 24 hours earlier than baking at 350 levels Fahrenheit for 45-50 minutes.
Bake from Frozen: Alternatively, bake it straight from frozen by protecting it with aluminum foil and baking at 350 levels Fahrenheit for 60-75 minutes. Then, take away the foil and bake for an extra 5-10 minutes or till the cheese is melted. Be sure the interior temperature reaches 165ºF.

Extra Baked Pasta Recipes

I completely love baked pasta! It’s the proper dish for feeding a crowd, meal prepping, or only a cozy, home made meal. Listed below are a few of my household’s favorites that you just’re certain to like, too!

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Preheat the oven to 350 levels Fahrenheit, and spray a 6-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and put aside.
Carry a big pot of water to a boil and cook dinner the ziti in keeping with the directions on the package deal. Drain and put aside.
In the meantime, cook dinner the Italian sausage and floor beef in a big, deep skillet over medium-high warmth till no pink stays.
Drain off the fats and add the garlic. Prepare dinner for about 2 minutes earlier than including the spaghetti sauce and Italian seasoning. Carry to a simmer over medium warmth earlier than decreasing the warmth to decrease and simmering for 10 minutes.
Add the cream cheese, cottage cheese, bitter cream, and 1 cup of mozzarella to a medium bowl and beat with a hand mixer till mixed.
Add the cheese combination to the sauce and stir till it has all melted and mixed.
Stir the cooked ziti noodles into the sauce earlier than pouring all of it into the ready baking dish. Prime with the remaining 2 cups of mozzarella.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, till the cheese is melted and browned on prime. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve.

For six Servings: To make this recipe for a smaller quantity of individuals, reduce all the elements in half and bake it in a 3 or 4-quart baking dish for about half-hour, till the cheese is melted and browning.

Energy: 538kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 29gFats: 30gSaturated Fats: 14gPolyunsaturated Fats: 3gMonounsaturated Fats: 10gTrans Fats: 0.1gLdl cholesterol: 102mgSodium: 1134mgPotassium: 730mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1024IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 224mgIron: 3mg