baked ziti ✨ - when it comes to nostalgic eats, ziti ranks pretty high on my list. this recipe delivers every time a craving for a cozy comforting plate of cheesy pasta goodness hits! what you’ll need: Meat Sauce • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage • 1/2 cup onions, chopped • 4 garlic cloves, minced • 1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste • 28 oz can crushed tomatoes • 1/4 cup heavy cream • 2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped • 1 tsp sugar • 1 tsp dried oregano • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, optional • Salt and pepper to taste Ricotta Mixture • 8 oz whole milk ricotta cheese • 1/2 beaten egg • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded • 1/2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped • 1/2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped • Salt and pepper to taste Baked Ziti • 1/2 pound ziti pasta • 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded here’s how to make it: 1. Preheat the oven to 375F. Cook ziti pasta following package directions until al dente. Drain and mix with a little bit of oil to prevent sticking. Set aside. 2. In a pan over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned. Add in the onions and garlic. Cook until softened. Mix in the sugar, seasonings (oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper) and tomato paste. Cook mixture for 2-3 min. 3. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and herbs. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer sauce for 12-15 min. Mix in the heavy cream. Cook for an additional 5-6 min. Remove from heat and set aside. 4. In a bowl, add and mix together all of the ricotta mixture ingredients. 5. Next, mix together the ziti, ricotta mixture and 3 large spoons (about 1 cup) of the meat sauce. 6. Lightly grease a 9x9 baking pan and spoon in a thin layer of the sauce. Add half of the ziti mixture and spread out. Top with a layer of sauce and sprinkle with half of the mozzarella. Repeat layering with remaining ziti mixture, sauce and cheese. 7. Cover pan with foil and bake for 20 min. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 min. For crisp, golden brown cheese top, broil for 3-5 min. 8. Sprinkle baked ziti with fresh chopped parsley before serving. Enjoy! #pastatiktok #Recipe #DinnerIdeas #FoodTok - @aflavorfulbite