Million Dollar Baked Ziti: Creamy, Cheesy, and Irresistible Dinner

Million Dollar Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort dinner that tastes like it belongs in an upscale Italian restaurant, but comes together easily enough for busy weeknights. This cheesy baked ziti casserole combines tender pasta, savory meat sauce, and a dreamy creamy cheese blend that every family will love.

Why You’ll Love Million Dollar Baked Ziti

There’s a reason this baked ziti has become a go-to recipe for so many home cooks:

• Big, bold flavor with a rich, creamy cheese base
• Kid-friendly and family-approved every time
• Easy to prep and perfect for meal prepping
• Great for feeding crowds or freezing for later meals

What You’ll Need

This Million Dollar Baked Ziti is loaded with satisfying ingredients:

• Ziti pasta
• Ground Italian sausage and lean ground beef (can use turkey or chicken)
• Garlic, spaghetti sauce, and Italian seasoning
• A creamy blend of cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, and mozzarella
• Fresh parsley for garnish

How to Make the Best Million Dollar Baked Ziti

1. Prep the pasta – Cook ziti noodles until just tender and set aside.
2. Brown the meat – Sauté Italian sausage and ground beef until cooked through, then add garlic.
3. Simmer with sauce – Pour in spaghetti sauce and Italian seasoning and simmer to blend flavors.
4. Mix the cheese base – In a bowl combine cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and part of the mozzarella until smooth.
5. Combine and bake – Stir the cheese mixture into the sauce, fold in the pasta, place in a baking dish, top with remaining mozzarella, and bake until bubbly and golden.

Pro Tips for Perfect Baked Ziti

• Taste the sauce before adding noodles and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
• If you like your pasta more firm, cook ziti a bit less before baking.
• Swap the cottage cheese for plain Greek yogurt or ricotta if preferred.
• Don’t overbake — once the cheese on top is golden and bubbly, it’s ready.

Storage, Leftovers, and Make-Ahead Tips

Million Dollar Baked Ziti is perfect for make-ahead meals:

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container up to 7 days.
• Freezer: Assemble and freeze before baking for up to three months.
• Reheat: Warm portions in the microwave or reheat the whole pan in the oven until hot throughout.
• Can be baked straight from frozen or thawed overnight in the fridge first.

What to Serve With It

Want to round out your meal? Here are some delicious options that pair well with Million Dollar Baked Ziti:

• A fresh side like our Rainbow Orzo Salad brings a light and colorful contrast.
• For another Italian-inspired main, try the Italian Meatloaf Dinner.
• Craving more comfort food casseroles? You’ll love the Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole or our cheesy favorite, Cheesy Penne with Garlic Butter Ground Beef.
• If you’re a baked pasta lover, don’t skip the Classic Homemade Lasagna Recipe or the fan favorite World’s Best Lasagna Recipe.

Million Dollar Baked Ziti

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• Author: Jake
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x

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Description

Creamy, cheesy, and packed with bold flavor, Million Dollar Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food pasta bake that’s perfect for weeknights or feeding a crowd.

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb ziti pasta
• 1/2 lb ground Italian sausage
• 1/2 lb lean ground beef (or turkey/chicken)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 jar (24 oz) spaghetti sauce
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook ziti pasta until just tender. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, brown Italian sausage and ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
4. Stir in spaghetti sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
5. In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella until smooth.
6. Add cheese mixture to the meat sauce and stir until well combined.
7. Fold in the cooked ziti pasta until evenly coated.
8. Transfer everything to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella on top.
9. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden on top.
10. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.

Notes

For firmer pasta, cook ziti slightly under before baking. Cottage cheese can be swapped with ricotta or Greek yogurt. Freeze before baking for make-ahead meals.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baked
• Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 580
• Sugar: 7g
• Sodium: 890mg
• Fat: 32g
• Saturated Fat: 16g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 44g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 28g
• Cholesterol: 85mg

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re planning dinner for friends, prepping meals for the week, or craving a cozy, cheesy pasta bake, this Million Dollar Baked Ziti delivers unforgettable flavor with simple steps and everyday ingredients. It hits all the marks for comfort, convenience, and crowd-pleasing appeal.

The best part? You can make it ahead, stash it in the freezer, and pull it out whenever the craving hits. And trust me—it will hit.