Description
Enjoy a comforting and cheesy Baked Ziti that is perfect for a family dinner or a gathering with friends. This classic Italian-American dish is loaded with pasta, sausage, three kinds of cheese, and flavorful seasonings, all baked to bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta:
- 16 oz ziti or penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling over pasta
Sauce:
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 32 oz marinara sauce
Cheese Mixture:
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided
- 3/4 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Dash of crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Garnish:
- Chopped basil, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain, drizzle with olive oil, and set aside.
- Cook Sausage: In a sauté pan, cook the Italian sausage until browned. Discard excess fat.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: Combine ricotta, egg, 1 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan, basil, seasoning, and pepper flakes.
- Combine Ingredients: Mix ricotta mixture, pasta, marinara sauce, and sausage. Transfer to baking dish.
- Add Cheese: Top with remaining cheeses.
- Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Let it rest, garnish with basil, and serve hot.
Notes
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 528 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: Not Provided
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: Not Provided
- Trans Fat: Not Provided
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: Not Provided
