Cheesy Baked Ziti Casserole – Comfort Food at Its Best

Cheesy Baked Ziti Casserole – Comfort Food at Its Best

When it comes to family dinners that satisfy every craving, nothing beats a bubbling dish of homemade baked ziti. With layers of tender pasta, rich meat sauce, creamy cheese, and a perfectly golden top, this recipe is everything you love about Italian comfort food—simple, hearty, and irresistibly cheesy.

This version from deesviral is designed to be both easy to make and impossible to resist. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just meal-prepping for the week, this baked ziti delivers big flavor with minimal fuss.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ziti pasta

• 1 pound ground beef (or Italian sausage)

• 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce

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• 1 cup ricotta cheese

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

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• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

2. Cook Pasta: Boil the ziti in salted water until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

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3. Make the Meat Sauce: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat, then add marinara sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.

4. Prepare the Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese and sour cream until smooth.

5. Assemble the Layers:

   • Spread half the cooked ziti in the bottom of the baking dish.

   • Top with half of the meat sauce.

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   • Drop spoonfuls of the ricotta-sour cream mixture evenly over the sauce.

   • Sprinkle half the mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

   • Repeat the layers with remaining ziti, sauce, and cheese.

6. Bake: Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and golden brown.

7. Cool and Serve: Let rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

Final Note:

This cheesy baked ziti casserole brings together everything you want in a cozy meal—layers of flavor, melt-in-your-mouth cheese, and hearty satisfaction in every bite. Perfect for potlucks, freezer meals, or just a lazy Sunday dinner.

For more easy homemade classics, follow along with deesviral and let the comfort food magic begin.