Description

This Easy Baked Ziti is a comforting Italian-American casserole featuring ziti pasta baked in a rich, flavorful sauce with Italian sausage, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, it combines savory sausage, tender pasta, and a cheesy, bubbly topping baked to golden perfection.

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 and Cheese Mixture

16 ounces ziti pasta
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

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
Cook Sausage and Onion: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the Italian sausage along with the diced onion. Break the sausage up with a spoon until it’s finely crumbled. Drain any excess fat for a leaner dish.
Simmer Sauce: Add the pasta sauce, canned diced tomatoes with their juices, water, and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Simmer uncovered for about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Cook Ziti Pasta: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti until al dente (firm to the bite but cooked through). Drain the pasta thoroughly.
Mix Cheese Filling: In a small bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, chopped parsley, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese. This mixture will add creaminess and flavor between the pasta layers.
Assemble the Bake: Spread 1 cup of the sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Layer half of the cooked ziti over the sauce, then spread the entire ricotta cheese mixture evenly on top. Add half of the remaining sauce over the ricotta layer.
Add Remaining Layers: Add the remaining ziti on top of the sauce, pour the leftover sauce evenly over it, and finish off with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Bake: Place the assembled dish uncovered in the preheated oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese on top is golden brown and bubbly.
Garnish and Serve: Let the baked ziti rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with thinly sliced fresh basil or additional chopped parsley, if desired.

Notes

If substituting sausage with ground beef or turkey, add 2 cloves of minced garlic and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning while cooking the meat for enhanced flavor.
For a spicier kick, add ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes to the sauce during simmering.
To prepare ahead, follow all assembly steps but reserve 1 cup of mozzarella for topping. Refrigerate covered up to 48 hours or freeze up to 4 months. If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before baking. Bake 25 minutes, add reserved cheese topping, then bake an additional 20–25 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/8 of recipe)
Calories: 598
Sugar: 8g
Sodium: 1257mg
Fat: 27g
Saturated Fat: 11g
Unsaturated Fat: 14g
Trans Fat: 0.3g
Carbohydrates: 54g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 34g
Cholesterol: 97mg