Description

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.

Ingredients

• 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

Steps

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish.