Best Baked Ziti with Ricotta Ultimate Cheesy Comfort

Instructions:

1. Brown the ground beef and sausage in a large Dutch oven over medium heat; drain off excess fat.
2. Add the diced onion to the pot and cook until softened (about 5 minutes). Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Stir in all tomato products, broth/water, and dried herbs/spices. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat and cook, partially covered, for at least 20 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper.
4. While the sauce simmers, boil the ziti according to package directions, reducing the cooking time by 1-2 minutes so it is very al dente. Drain well.
5. In a separate bowl, thoroughly combine ricotta, beaten egg, Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper to create the cheese mix.
6. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
7. In the large empty pot used for the pasta, combine the drained ziti, about 1 cup of the finished ragu, and half of the ricotta mixture. Toss gently to coat everything lightly.
8. Spread a thin layer of the remaining ragu across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
9. Spread half of the coated pasta mixture evenly over the sauce base.
10. Dollop the remaining ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta layer.
11. Top with the remaining coated pasta mixture, then pour the remaining ragu over the top. Sprinkle generously with the shredded mozzarella and a final dusting of Parmesan.
12. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
13. Let the Baked Ziti rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.