Yield: 20 servings

Best Baked Ziti for a Crowd

Best Baked Ziti Ever

Delicious party sized baked ziti with meat sauce, pasta, and 3 cheeses.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds dry ziti or penne pasta
  • 1 cup chopped onion (frozen is fine)
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 hot Italian sausage link, crumbled (optional)
  • 4 (26-ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
  • 3/4 pound (12 oz) sliced provolone (not smoked)
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 (16-oz) carton whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 3/4 pound (4 cups) mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1/2-1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 TB Italian seasoning (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.
  2. In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.
  3. In medium bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, egg & Italian seasoning.
  4. Spray one jumbo or two large aluminum foil pans with cooking spray.
  5. Layer ingredients as follows:
  6. Half of the sauce
  7. Half of the ziti
  8. Half of the Provolone cheese,
  9. Half of the mozzarella
  10. Layer remaining sauce, ziti, provolone & mozzarella.
  11. Spread all of ricotta/sour cream mixture on top.
  12. Sprinkle parmesan on top.
  13. Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly.
  14. IF FREEZING:
  15. Assemble (but do not cook) ziti.
  16. Wrap well, label, and freeze.
  17. TO COOK FROM FROZEN:
  18. Place in fridge to thaw a few days before serving.
  19. Bake at 350 until bubbly.
  20. Allow to rest at least a half hour before serving.

Nutrition Information

Yield

20

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 345Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 11gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 99mgSodium 558mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 27g