Description
This easy baked ziti is a comforting Italian-American classic featuring tender pasta layered with a savory sausage and tomato sauce, creamy ricotta mixture, and melted mozzarella cheese, baked to bubbly perfection. It’s a hearty, crowd-pleasing casserole perfect for family dinners or meal prep.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
Sauce
- 28 ounces pasta sauce or marinara sauce
- 14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juices (1 can)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup water
Pasta
- 16 ounces ziti
Cheese Mixture
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Garnish (optional)
- Thinly sliced fresh basil leaves or chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare dish: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook sausage and onion: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the Italian sausage and diced onion, breaking up the sausage with a spoon until it is finely crumbled and cooked through. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Make the sauce: Add the pasta sauce, canned diced tomatoes with juices, water, and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Simmer uncovered for 12 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook pasta: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta well.
- Mix cheeses: In a small bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, chopped parsley, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese until well mixed.
- Assemble the casserole: Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Layer half of the cooked ziti over the sauce. Spread all of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the ziti. Top the ricotta layer with half of the remaining sauce. Add the remaining ziti and the rest of the sauce on top.
- Add final cheese layer and bake: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly around the edges.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from oven and let rest for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves or chopped parsley if desired before serving.
Notes
- If replacing the sausage with ground beef or turkey, add 2 cloves of minced garlic and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning to the meat as it cooks for extra flavor.
- For a spicy kick, stir in ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes into the sauce during simmering.
- To prepare ahead, assemble the casserole as directed but keep 1 cup of mozzarella cheese separate for topping. Refrigerate tightly covered for up to 48 hours or freeze for up to 4 months. If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge.
- When ready to bake from refrigerated, remove casserole from fridge 30 minutes before baking. Bake for 25 minutes, then add the reserved mozzarella cheese on top and bake an additional 20 to 25 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 598
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 1257mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 97mg
