Description
This Easy Baked Ziti recipe combines savory Italian sausage, a rich tomato sauce, and creamy cheese fillings into a comforting, hearty pasta bake perfect for family dinners and gatherings. Featuring layers of tender ziti pasta, ricotta, mozzarella, and Italian cheese blend, baked until bubbly and golden, this dish is simple to prepare yet full of classic Italian flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage (sweet, mild, or hot)
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
Sauce
- 3 oz tomato paste
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning blend
- ½ cup water
Pasta
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- ½ tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
Cheese Filling
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 cup Italian cheese blend (or a mix of mozzarella and Parmesan)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 handful chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown Sausage and Sauté Onions: In a large skillet or pot over medium heat, brown the ground Italian sausage until it’s crispy on the edges. Meanwhile, finely dice the yellow onion. Add the diced onion to the skillet once the sausage is browned and sauté until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Make Sauce: To the browned sausage and onions, add the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and ½ cup water. Stir everything together, cover with a lid, and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and let it cook gently, stirring occasionally while you prepare the pasta.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of water seasoned with ½ tablespoon salt to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook until tender, about 7-8 minutes. Drain the pasta in a colander once done.
- Make Cheese Filling: While the pasta and sauce are cooking, combine ricotta cheese, Italian cheese blend, and freshly cracked black pepper in a bowl. Stir together until well mixed. Begin preheating the oven to 350ºF.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Return the drained ziti to the pot, add 1 cup of the prepared red sauce, and stir to coat the pasta evenly.
- Layer Ingredients: In a 9×13” baking dish, layer half of the ziti, dollop half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the pasta, then spoon half of the remaining sauce with sausage on top. Repeat the layering with the remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, and sauce. Finish by evenly topping with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil, tenting it slightly so it doesn’t touch the cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Broil and Serve: Remove the foil, switch the oven to broil, and broil the ziti for about 5 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Watch carefully to avoid burning. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve hot.
Notes
- Use sweet, mild, or hot Italian sausage depending on your spice preference.
- Make sure to tent the foil when baking to prevent it from sticking to the cheese topping.
- Keep an eye on the casserole during broiling to avoid burning the cheese.
- Freshly cracked black pepper adds a nice touch to the ricotta cheese filling.
- This dish can be prepared a day in advance and refrigerated before baking.
