Go Back
A close-up view of the layers in the Million Dollar Baked Ziti, highlighting the creamy baked ziti filling made with ricotta and cream cheese.

Million Dollar Baked Ziti: The Ultimate Cheesy & Creamy Recipe

This Million Dollar Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food, featuring layers of hearty meat sauce, a decadent cream cheese filling, and a golden, bubbly mozzarella topping. An easy, crowd-pleasing dinner that truly tastes like a million bucks.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Sauce
  • 1 lb ziti pasta
  • 1 lb lean ground beef 80/20 or 90/10
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 24 oz jarred marinara sauce
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Cheese Filling
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Topping
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tbsp butter cut into small pieces

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish
  • 1 Large Skillet
  • 1 Large Pot

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the ziti pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
  3. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and chopped onion over medium-high heat until the beef is browned. Drain off any excess grease. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
  4. Stir in the marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
  5. In a separate medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, softened cream cheese, sour cream, and Parmesan cheese. Mix until smooth.
  6. Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the meat sauce and stir to combine.
  7. Spread half of the pasta mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with the cheese mixture, spreading it into an even layer. Spread the remaining pasta mixture over the cheese layer.
  8. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the top and dot with the pieces of butter.
  9. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly browned. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For the best results, use whole milk ricotta and freshly grated cheeses.
Let the baked ziti rest before cutting to ensure cleaner slices.
This dish can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated before baking.