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Meatball Baked Ziti

Cheesy baked ziti with the easiest homemade meatballs. Quick to prepare and so so good. Comfort food at its best here!

Ingredients
  • 1 pound ziti pasta
  • ¾ pound ground beef
  • ¾ pound ground pork
  • ⅓ cup Panko
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ⅓ cup dry red wine
  • 1 (32-ounce) jar marinara sauce
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • 8 ounces burrata cheese, torn into large pieces
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9 x 13 baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
  2. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions for al dente; drain well.
  3. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, Panko, egg yolks, garlic, basil and oregano; season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a wooden spoon or clean hands, stir until well combined. Roll the mixture into 1-to-1-1/4-inch meatballs, forming about 24 meatballs.
  4. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add meatballs, in batches, and cook until all sides are browned, about 2-3 minutes. Return meatballs to the Dutch oven.
  5. Stir in wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the Dutch oven.
  6. Stir in marinara sauce. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until flavors have blended, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in pasta, basil and parsley.
  7. Spread pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish; top with burrata.
  8. Place into oven and bake until bubbly, about 25-30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes.
  9. Serve immediately.