# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound ziti pasta
→ Meat Sauce
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 pound ground beef
06 - 14 ounces Italian sausage, casings removed
07 - 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
08 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
11 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
12 - 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
13 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Cheese Mixture
14 - 15 ounces ricotta cheese
15 - 1 large egg
16 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
→ For Assembly
18 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
19 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
# Steps to Follow:
01 - Set oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and reserve.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Sauté onions until softened, 3 to 4 minutes, then add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
04 - Add ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking apart meat as it cooks. Sauté until fully browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
05 - Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Stir and simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan, and parsley until fully blended.
07 - Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of prepared baking dish. Layer half of the ziti, followed by half the ricotta mixture, half the meat sauce, and 1 cup mozzarella.
08 - Repeat layers with remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, then top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
09 - Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 15 to 20 minutes, until cheese is melted and golden.
10 - Allow casserole to rest 10 minutes before serving.
