Baked Ziti

Ingredients

• 1 lb elbow noodles
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 5 cups marinara sauce
• 16 oz cream cheese
• 2 teaspoons basil
• 12 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided

Instructions

1. Cook pasta in salt water until al dente, then drain.
2. In a deep pot over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and drain.
3. Add onion to the meat and cook until softened (5–7 mins).
4. Add minced garlic, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper, and sauté another minute.
5. Add 5 cups marinara, bring to a simmer, and continue cooking 5 mins, then turn off the heat.
6. Spread a ladle of meat sauce over the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish.
7. Into the remaining sauce, add basil and spoon in the cream cheese.
8. Add the cooked pasta and stir just until the noodles are coated.
9. Transfer half of the pasta to the casserole dish. Top with half the mozzarella and parmesan. (Repeat.)
10. Bake at 350° for 25 mins.