# Components:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb ziti pasta
→ Meat Sauce
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 lb ground beef
06 - 14 oz Italian sausage, casings removed
07 - 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
08 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
11 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
12 - 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
13 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Cheese Mixture
14 - 15 oz ricotta cheese
15 - 1 large egg
16 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
→ For Assembly
18 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
19 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
# Directions:
01 - Set oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Boil a large pot of salted water and cook ziti until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook chopped onion until softened, about 3–4 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute more.
04 - Add ground beef and Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat, until fully browned, roughly 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
05 - Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Allow to simmer uncovered for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley until smooth and uniform.
07 - Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the baking dish. Layer half of the cooked ziti pasta, half of the ricotta mixture, and half of the meat sauce. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
08 - Add remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, and meat sauce. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
09 - Cover the dish with foil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
10 - Remove the foil and bake an additional 15–20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
