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Hearty Baked Ziti

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PREP TIME
25 min
COOKING TIME
95 min
TOTAL TIME
125 min
SERVINGS
12 servings
Dinner
Hearty Baked Ziti
Ingredients
  • 1 pound bulk mild Italian sausage
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 (14.5 ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with juice
  • 1/2 cup diced white onion
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 (16 ounce) package ziti pasta
  • 1 (15 ounce) container whole-milk ricotta cheese
  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 12 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
1
Heat a large cooking vessel over medium-high heat, preparing it for the initial stages of our dish.
2
Cook and stir sausage and ground beef in the hot cooking vessel until they reach a browned and crumbly state, taking approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
3
Add the tomato sauce, whole tomatoes with their juice, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, basil, sugar, and red pepper flakes; bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
4
Reduce heat to medium-low and allow the sauce to simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour, creating a rich flavor profile.
5
Turn off the heat source and transfer 3 cups of sauce to a separate container, leaving the remaining sauce in the cooking vessel.
6
Allow the sauce to cool while you prepare the ziti, giving it time to reduce in temperature and become more manageable.
7
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius), setting the stage for the final stages of our dish.
8
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, adding a pinch of salt to the water as it heats up.
9
Add the ziti pasta to the boiling water, stirring occasionally until it reaches a tender yet still slightly firm texture, approximately 11 minutes.
10
Drain the ziti pasta and rinse it under cool running water to stop any further cooking, ensuring it remains at the perfect texture.
11
Combine the ricotta cheese, 2 cups of mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, and pepper in a bowl.
12
Stir the ingredients together with minimal mixing, taking care not to overmix and create a uniform consistency.
13
Pour the drained ziti pasta into the bowl with the cheese mixture, gently tossing it until slightly combined.
14
Add the reserved 3 cups of meat sauce to the pasta mixture, stirring it in until well combined.
15
Place half of the pasta mixture into a 9x13-inch casserole dish, followed by half of the remaining sauce.
16
Layer with 6 slices of provolone cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella, creating a harmonious balance of flavors.
17
Repeat the layers: pasta mixture, remaining sauce, 6 slices of provolone cheese, and 1 cup of mozzarella.
18
Cover the dish with foil to protect it from the heat, allowing it to cook evenly.
19
Place the casserole dish on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven until it's bubbling, taking approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
20
Remove the foil and continue baking until the cheese is fully melted and slightly browned, adding an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
21
Remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle it with parsley, adding a pop of color to our finished dish.
22
Allow the casserole to stand for 5 minutes before serving, giving you time to admire its beauty and prepare it for consumption.