Baked Ziti with Sausage
This hearty and comforting Baked Ziti with Sausage is a delicious and easy meal perfect for the whole family.
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Large Skillet
- Mixing Bowl
- Baking Dish
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 pound Dried ziti pasta
Sausage and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 1 small Yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
Sauce
- 24 ounces Marinara sauce
- 14 ounces Canned diced tomatoes
- ½ cup Water
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Ground black pepper
Cheese Mixture
- 15 ounces Ricotta cheese
- 1 large Egg
- 2 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup Shredded parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons Fresh chopped parsley
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the ziti pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, drain and set aside.
- Step 2: Sauté the sausage and vegetables. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Remove the casing from the Italian sausage and crumble it into the skillet. Brown the sausage, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes until cooked through. Then, add the diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté for another 3-5 minutes until the onion is translucent.
- Step 3: Make the sauce. To the skillet, add the marinara sauce, canned diced tomatoes, and water. Stir in the Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper. Let this mixture simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Step 4: Prepare the cheese mixture. In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, large egg, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper. Mix it well until smooth.
- Step 5: Assemble the baked ziti. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large baking dish, spread half of the sausage sauce mixture. Then, add half of the cooked ziti on top, followed by dollops of the ricotta mixture. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella on top, followed by the remaining ziti and the rest of the sausage sauce. Finish with the remaining mozzarella and the shredded parmesan cheese.
- Step 6: Bake it! Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. After that, remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the top is lightly golden.
- Step 7: Garnish and serve. Once baked, remove the ziti from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
For a creamier texture, mix some shredded mozzarella into the ricotta mixture. If you like heat, consider using spicy Italian sausage or adding red pepper flakes to the sauce. Don’t skip the fresh parsley; it adds a lovely freshness that balances out the richness of the dish.