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Baked Ziti Freezer Meal Recipe | Large Family Style!

Jamerrill Stewart
Feed a herd of hungry people with this favorite Baked Ziti Freezer Meal recipe! Add your favorite sides and make it work for you.

Ingredients
  

HOMEMADE MEAT SAUCE

  • 105 oz of Hunts Tomato Sauce
  • 2 oz of Garlic Powder
  • 2 oz of Ground Oregano
  • 2 lbs of Cooked Ground Beef

HOMEMADE CHEESE SAUCE

  • 2-32 oz Ricotta Cheese Tubs
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese

ALSO NEEDED

  • 4 - 16 oz boxes of Ziti Noodles
  • 8 cups of preferred shredded cheese Mozzarella, Colby blend, or cheese of your choice

Instructions
 

FOR THE HOMEMADE MEAT SAUCE

  • Precook and drain 2 lbs of ground beef.
  • Combine 2 lbs of ground beef with large 105 oz can of plain tomato sauce in a large stock pot.
  • Add in 2 oz of garlic powder and 2 oz of ground oregano.
  • Stir well.

FOR HOMEMADE CHEESE SAUCE

  • In large mixing bowl combined 2-32 oz tubs of Ricotta Cheese, 6 eggs, and 1 cups of mozzarella cheese.
  • Mix well with hand mixer.

NOODLES

  • Cook noodles according to directions on package.
  • After draining noodles rinse with cool water to prevent further cooking.

CONSTRUCTING BAKED ZITI FREEZER MEALS

  • Set out 4 to 5 9x13 baking pans.
  • In large stock pot or huge mixing bowl gently stir together precooked homemade meat sauce, homemade cheese sauce, and 4 lbs of cooked noodles.
  • Fill each 9x13 baking pan approximately 3/4 full of baked ziti mixture.
  • Top each 9x13 pan with two additional cups of shredded cheese.

FREEZER MEAL DIRECTIONS

  • Allow your meals to cool completely before placing in the freezer.
  • Wrap each 9x13 pan with two layers of foil.
  • Label the top of each pan with recipe name and date.
  • Wrap each 9x13 pan with a layer of plastic wrap.
  • Set each pan to freeze in the freezer. Do not stack the pans on top of one another until each pan is individually frozen.

THAWED COOKING DIRECTIONS

  • Set the desired pans of Baked Ziti out in the refrigerator the evening before you'd like to serve.
  • Preheat your oven to 375 (oven times may vary).
  • Remove plastic wrap and one layer of foil.
  • Place Baked Ziti in preheated oven for 1 hour or until bubbly and hot. Remove last layer of foil and allow to cook for 10 additional minutes.
  • Allow your hot Baked Zitis to slightly cool on counter for 5-10 minutes before serving.

FROZEN COOKING DIRECTIONS

  • If cooking your Baked Ziti from completely frozen (this happens in real life :), remove plastic wrap and one layer of foil and place frozen Baked Ziti in preheated oven at 400 (oven temps may vary). Cook for up to 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until hot and bubbly. Remove last layer of foil and cook uncovered an additional 10 minutes as needed.