Kittencal's Freezer Baked Ziti Oamc

Prepare to fall in love with comfort food all over again with **Kittencal's Freezer Baked Ziti OAMC**—a hearty, flavor-packed casserole that's perfect for make-ahead meals. Featuring layers of tender ziti pasta, savory meat sauce made with ground beef, Italian sausage, and a touch of spice, and a creamy ricotta cheese mixture, this dish is an irresistible combination of textures and bold Italian-inspired flavors. Topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan for the ultimate cheesy finish, this freezer-friendly baked ziti is ideal for meal prepping or feeding a crowd. Simply bake, freeze, and reheat whenever you need a delicious, stress-free dinner on the table. Whether you're hosting a family gathering or planning your weeknight meals, this ziti recipe is the perfect blend of convenience and comfort.

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:25 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:70 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 16 oz ziti pasta
• 1 lb ground beef
• 0.5 lb ground Italian sausage
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 32 oz marinara sauce
• 6 oz tomato paste
• 1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning
• 0.5 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 3

Add the ground beef, Italian sausage, and garlic to the skillet. Cook until the meat is browned, breaking it up into crumbles as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.

Step 4

Stir in the marinara sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 5

In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup of grated parmesan, the egg, salt, and black pepper. Mix until smooth.

Step 6

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 7

In a greased 9x13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom. Add half of the cooked ziti, followed by half of the ricotta mixture, half of the remaining meat sauce, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers.

Step 8

Top with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Step 9

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

Step 10

Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.

Step 11

Let the baked ziti cool completely if freezing for later. To freeze, cover tightly with foil and plastic wrap. To reheat, bake frozen ziti at 375°F (190°C) for 1 hour or until heated through.

Step 12

Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(3251.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5976.6

Total Fat 324.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 145.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.3g
Cholesterol 1306.3mg	0%
Sodium 9596.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 460.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 42.2g	0%
Total Sugars 66.9g
Protein 342.8g	0%

Vitamin D 53.8IU	0%
Calcium 5448.1mg	0%
Iron 38.7mg	0%
Potassium 4435.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 47.6%

Protein: 22.4%

Carbs: 30.0%