This just could be the best ziti that you will ever taste. It's made with a homemade meat sauce, ziti pasta and three different cheeses. It can be on your table in less than an hour.
Meat Sauce:
1 lb. ground chuck
2 T. olive oil
1 onion, diced
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
5 cloves garlic, minced
6 oz. can tomato paste
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 T. dried basil
1 t. dried oregano
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. black pepper
Baked Ziti:
1 lb. ziti pasta
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
8 oz. Ricotta cheese
1 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
Add olive oil to a large, deep skillet or pot, over medium-high heat. Add in ground chuck; brown for 5 minutes, crumbling meat while it cooks. Discard excess grease. Add in onion, and mushrooms. Saute 5 to 7 minutes, until onion is soft and translucent, and ground chuck is cooked throughout.
Add in garlic and tomato paste; cook for 2 minutes.Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper; stir; bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low; simmer until pasta is ready.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
Cook pasta in well salted boiling water, according to package directions.
Make the cheese topping by combining the cream cheese, Ricotta and Parmesan cheeses in a small bowl; stir until smooth.
Once the pasta is done, add it into the meat sauce; stir to combine; pour in the prepared casserole dish. Spread cheese topping on top of the pasta.
Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve immediately topped with freshly chopped parsley.
8 servings.