Print

Marry Me Baked Ziti: Rich Creamy Tomato Sauce Delight

Print Recipe

This Marry Me Baked Ziti is a luxurious twist on a classic comfort food, featuring a velvety creamy tomato sauce that elevates your dinner experience. Perfect for impressing loved ones or treating yourself, every bite is a delightful embrace of flavor and warmth.

Ingredients

  • Ziti Pasta
  • Ground Beef
  • Aromatics: 1 finely diced yellow onion, plenty of minced garlic
  • Crushed Tomatoes
  • Marinara Sauce
  • Heavy Cream
  • Cheese Blend: Ricotta Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese, Parmesan Cheese
  • Non-Alcoholic Red Wine Alternative or Vegetable Broth
  • Fresh Herbs: Fresh basil, parsley

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your ziti pasta and cook according to package directions, but aim for about 2 minutes less than al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside, reserving about ½ cup of the pasta water.
  2. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add your ground beef and break it up with a spoon. Cook until it’s fully browned, crumbling it as you go. Drain off any excess fat from the pot.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced onion to the pot with the beef and cook until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the non-alcoholic red wine alternative (or vegetable broth) and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, marinara sauce, dried oregano, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 15-20 minutes. Season generously with salt and black pepper to taste.
  5. Once your meat sauce has simmered, remove about 2 cups of it and place it in a separate bowl. To this smaller portion of sauce, stir in the heavy cream and a handful of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
  6. In a very large bowl, combine the slightly undercooked ziti pasta with the remaining large batch of meat sauce, half of the shredded mozzarella cheese, and about half of the fresh basil. Stir gently to combine everything thoroughly.
  7. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread about a third of the pasta and meat mixture evenly in the bottom of the dish. Dollop half of the ricotta cheese over this layer. Spoon about half of your prepared creamy tomato cream sauce over the ricotta. Repeat with another layer of pasta mixture, the remaining ricotta, and the rest of the creamy tomato cream sauce. Finish with the remaining pasta mixture.
  8. Generously sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese and a good amount of freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the top layer. Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes.
  9. Remove the foil and continue to bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly, melted, and golden brown on top.
  10. Remove the baked ziti from the oven and let it rest for at least 10-15 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil and parsley.

Nutrition

Keywords: Use good quality ingredients for the best flavor. Cook the ziti a few minutes less than al dente to prevent mushiness. Let the sauce simmer for a richer flavor.

Find it online: https://softtasty.com/marry-me-baked-ziti-rich-creamy-tomato-sauce-delight/