If You Want To Make An Authentic Italian Recipe Like Baked Ziti Then You Should Be Adding These Key Ingredients

This baked Ziti recipe uses Italian sausage and ground beef but you can use any kind of meat that your family loves. You can add in red pepper flavors like the recipe says or leave them out if you want to keep it mild, it's completely up to you. This recipe makes enough for twelve servings but you can always cut it half if you don't need that much or you can even double it if you want plenty of leftovers. It is ready in forty-five minutes and will smell so good everyone's mouth will be watering while you wait!

Let's Get Started!

The Ingredients To Gather:

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

3 cloves Garlic

1 Onion

1 pound Italian Sausage

1 pound Ground Beef

1 can Whole Tomatoes, With Juice

2 cans Tomato Sauce Or Marinara Sauce

2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning

1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes

16 ounces Ziti

1 tub Ricotta Cheese

1-1/2 pound Mozzarella Cheese,

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

1 Egg

Fresh Parsley

The Step By Step Directions To Follow:

Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, saute for several minutes, or until starting to soften. Add Italian sausage, ground beef, cook until browned. Drain off fat, leaving a bit behind for flavor and moisture.

Add tomatoes, tomato juice, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of the sauce to a different bowl to cool down.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix together the ricotta cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, and salt and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times (do not mix completely).

Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Pour it into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine.Add the cooled meat sauce and toss to combine.

Add half the pasta to a casserole dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half the remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat.

Bake 20 minutes, or until bubbling. Remove from oven, let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Finished!

This baked ziti is so good you may not even want to share it. Have you tried this baked ziti yet?

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