Description
This One Pan Baked Ziti is a quick and comforting Italian-American classic made all in one skillet. Ground Italian sausage simmers with diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, herbs, garlic, and pasta, then finished with creamy half and half, parmesan, and melted mozzarella cheese. Ready in under 40 minutes, it’s perfect for an easy weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Dairy
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1/2 cup half and half (or heavy cream)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Pantry and Vegetables
- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 5-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 Tablespoon dried basil (or 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves added at the end)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 cups water
- 12 ounces ziti pasta (or similar pasta)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and Brown Sausage: Preheat your oven to 450°F. Heat a large 12-inch or bigger oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the ground Italian sausage and cook, crumbling into small pieces, until browned, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Aromatics: Add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Create Sauce Base: Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, dried basil, and dried oregano. Mix everything well. Reduce heat and let it simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 5-10 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Cook Pasta in Sauce: Pour in the 3 cups of water and add the dry ziti pasta. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover the skillet, reduce to low heat, and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Finish with Cream and Cheese: Stir in the half and half and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Make sure the mixture is well combined.
- Add Mozzarella and Bake: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta in the skillet. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and started to brown.
- Serve: Carefully remove the skillet from the oven, optionally garnish with fresh basil if using, and serve hot. Enjoy your creamy, cheesy one pan baked ziti!
Notes
- This recipe is perfect for an easy, one-pan meal that minimizes cleanup.
- Using fresh basil leaves added at the end brightens the dish with fresh herb flavor.
- You can substitute heavy cream for half and half for a richer sauce.
- Make sure to use an oven-safe skillet that can go from stovetop to oven.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to control the spice level.
- Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or oven.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 584 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 954 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 83 mg
