Baked Ziti with Mozzarella Cheesy Baked Ziti with Melted Mozzarella and Rich Tomato Sauce Ingredients: 1 lb (450g) ziti pasta 2 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought) 1 lb (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup ricotta cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme) Salt and pepper to taste Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional) Directions: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add ground beef or Italian sausage, season with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed. Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes to combine flavors. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, meat sauce, and ricotta cheese. Mix well. Transfer half of the pasta mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese and some Parmesan. Layer the remaining pasta mixture on top, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly with golden spots. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve hot. Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 40 minutes | Total Time: 55 minutes Kcal: 650 kcal per serving | Servings: 6 servings #bakedziti #italiancomfortfood #cheesypasta #mozarellapasta #homemadeitalian #comfortfoodrecipes #pastaovenbake #heartymeals #familydinner #easydinnerrecipes #italianrecipes #pastaandcheese #weeknightdinner #ricottacheese #groundbeefrecipes #italiandish #tomatosauce #pastafood #cheeselover #homecooking Indulge in this classic Baked Ziti with Mozzarella—layers of cheesy goodness and rich meat sauce baked to bubbly perfection! Perfect for family dinners!

Pesto Cream Sauce Velvety Pesto Cream Sauce with Fresh Basil and Parmesan Ingredients: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1/3 cup basil pesto (homemade or store-bought) Salt and pepper, to taste Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes Optional garnish: fresh basil leaves or extra Parmesan Directions: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add the basil pesto and stir to combine. Let the sauce simmer for 3–5 minutes until thickened slightly. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Serve warm over pasta, chicken, shrimp, or vegetables. Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cooking Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 15 minutes Kcal: 260 kcal per serving | Servings: 4 servings #pestocreamsauce #creamsauce #basilpesto #parmesansauce #quickdinners #easyrecipes #pastasauce #comfortfood #homemadegoodness #italiandishes #saucerecipes #garlicbutter #creamyflavors #cheesesauce #pastanight #lowcarbrecipes #saucelover #freshflavor #basilsauce #easysauces Whip up this velvety Pesto Cream Sauce in just 15 minutes! Perfect over pasta, grilled chicken, or roasted veggies. 🌿🧄🧀