Baked Ziti

Mom's Easy Baked Ziti

 

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Cook time

30 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

Author:Divas Can Cook

Serves:10

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ziti noodles, prepared ( a little under al dente.)
• 1 lb. ground breakfast sausage (I used Jennie' O turkey)
• ½ cup pepperoni, diced (I used turkey)
• 3 oz Italian sausage, diced (I used Archer Farms Italian chicken sausage)
• ½ cup onions, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 14.5 oz can basil, garlic & oregano diced tomatoes ( I used Hunts)
• 12.5 oz homestyle Marinara sauce (I used Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro)
• 12.5 oz Three Cheese Spaghetti sauce (I used Bertolli)
• 1 egg
• ½ cup ricotta cheese
• ½ cup cottage cheese
• 3 cups Italian cheese blend, shredded, divided (I used Sarengto's 6 cheese Italian which is smoked Parmesan, mozzarella, asiago, fontina, Romano & Provolone)
• 1 cup mixed cheddar cheeses, shredded ( I used Kraft's Triple Cheddar blend)
• 3 oz smoked gouda cheese, sliced thin
• Fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
2. Prepare the ziti according to package, except cook it a little under al dente.
3. Rinse with cold water to cool noodles, drain and set aside.
4. In a large deep skillet, brown the meat over medium heat.
5. Add onions, garlic, and Italian seasoning and cook until onions are slightly tender.
6. Drain the fat and return to heat
7. Stir in the diced tomatoes, marinara sauce and spaghetti sauce.
8. Reserve a cup of meat sauce for later use.
9. Bring sauce mixture to a light boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.
10. In large bowl stir together beaten egg, ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, 1-2 tablespoons fresh basil and 1½ cups of Italian blend cheese.
11. Toss in the noodles and stir gently until noodles are coated.
12. Add in the reserved cup of cooled meat sauce.
13. In a 9x13 casserole dish spread out a thin layer of meat sauce.
14. Top with half of the noodle mixture.
15. Next layer on half of the meat mixture.
16. Sprinkle with the mixed cheddar cheeses and then lay on the slices of smoked gouda.
17. Top with the remaining noodle mixture and remaining meat sauce .
18. Top with remaining Italian cheese blend.
19. Bakefor 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly!
20. Garnish with lots of chopped fresh basil.
21. Let baked ziti sit before serving.
22. Enjoy

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This recipe came from Divas Can Cook which is
Old School Cooking For The Modern Woman.
Make sure you go check out the website for more great recipes.

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Read Morehttp://divascancook.com/easy-baked-ziti-recipe-italian-sausage/