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Ingredients

• 1 lb Dakota Organic 90% Lean Ground Beef
• 1 Onion (Medium Diced)
• 3 cloves Garlic (Minced)
• 1 Marinara Sauce (Jar (32 oz))
• 1 lb Ziti pasta (Cooked Al Dente)
• 15 ozs Ricotta Cheese
• 8 ozs Mozzarella Cheese (Freshly Shredded (reserve some for topping))
• 1/2 cup Pecorino Romano Cheese
• 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley (Chopped (Plus more for Garnish))
• Salt & Pepper (To Taste)
• Olive Oil (For Sautéing)

Preparation

1. Boil ziti in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
3. Add onion and sauté until softened.
4. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
5. Add the Dakota grass-fed organic ground beef, season with salt & pepper, and cook until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
6. Stir in the marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
7. In a large bowl, combine ricotta, half the mozzarella, half the Pecorino Romano, parsley, and cooked ziti.
8. Stir in about ½ cup of the meat sauce to bring everything together.
9. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
10. Add half the ricotta-ziti mixture.
11. Top with half the remaining meat sauce.
12. Repeat layers with the remaining ricotta-ziti mixture and meat sauce.
13. Finish with the remaining mozzarella and Pecorino Romano on top.
14. Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.
15. Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
16. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

Melissa Jo is the recipe creator behind Melissa Jo Real Recipes, where she shares approachable Italian and American comfort food inspired by generations of family cooking. Taught by her Italian grandmother and mother, Melissa blends timeless family recipes with easy, modern meals designed for busy home cooks. Since launching her platform in 2020, she has built a large following across social media by creating simple, flavorful recipes that make everyday cooking fun, approachable, and delicious.