Best Baked Ziti Recipe with Rich Cream Cheese Filling
The ultimate comfort food: tender ziti pasta tossed in a rich ground beef marinara sauce and layered with a decadent mixture of cream cheese, ricotta, and sour cream. Topped with bubbly golden mozzarella.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
1 lb ziti pasta
1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef (90/10)
2 jars (24 oz each) marinara sauce
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 tbsp olive oil
Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Boil ziti in salted water 2 minutes less than package directions; drain.
3. Brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet; drain fat.
4. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and marinara; simmer 10 mins.
5. Beat cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, eggs, and 1/2 cup mozzarella in a bowl until smooth.
6. Spread thin layer of meat sauce in a 9×13 dish.
7. Layer half the pasta, then the entire white cheese mixture.
8. Top with remaining pasta, remaining meat sauce, and remaining cheeses.
9. Bake covered for 20 mins; uncover and bake 20 mins until bubbly.
10. Rest 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Use room temperature cream cheese for a smoother filling.
Freezer friendly: Assemble and freeze up to 3 months.
For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for beef.