Description
This Easy Baked Ziti recipe is a comforting Italian-American classic featuring layers of perfectly cooked ziti pasta, a rich and savory sausage tomato sauce, creamy ricotta cheese mixture, and melted mozzarella. It’s a crowd-pleasing baked pasta casserole with simple ingredients and straightforward steps, ideal for a satisfying family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Sauce
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage (sweet, mild, or hot)
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
- 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 Mixture
- 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 browned and crispy on the edges. While the sausage cooks, finely dice the onion. Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté until soft and translucent.
- Make Sauce: Stir in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and ½ cup water with the sausage and onions. Place a lid on the skillet and bring the mixture to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce heat and let it continue to simmer gently, stirring occasionally.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water (½ tablespoon salt) to a boil over high heat. Add the ziti pasta and cook until tender, about 7-8 minutes. Drain the pasta in a colander.
- Make Cheese Filling: In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, Italian cheese blend, and freshly cracked black pepper. Stir well to combine. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (175ºC) during this time.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Return the drained ziti to the pot and stir in 1 cup of the prepared sauce to coat the pasta evenly.
- Layer Ingredients: In a 9×13-inch baking dish, layer half of the ziti pasta, then dollop half of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the pasta. Spoon half of the remaining red sauce and sausage mixture on top. Repeat with the second half of pasta, ricotta mixture, and sauce. Finally, top the assembled ziti with 2 cups of 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 and switch oven to broil. Broil the dish for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. Watch carefully to avoid burning. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
- You can choose mild, sweet, or hot Italian sausage to adjust the spiciness level.
- Make sure to tent the foil so it doesn’t stick to the cheese during baking.
- Use freshly cracked black pepper for the best flavor in the cheese mixture.
- Leftover baked ziti can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute sausage with sautéed mushrooms or vegetables.
