Description
Hearty Italian-American classic Baked Ziti with Sausage and Ricotta delivers comfort straight from Mediterranean kitchens to dinner tables. Melted cheese, savory sausage, and rich pasta layers invite you to savor authentic flavors that promise pure culinary satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) Italian sausage
- 16 ounces (454 grams) ziti pasta
- 15 ounces (425 grams) ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 28 ounces (794 grams) pasta or marinara sauce
- 14.5 ounces (411 grams) diced tomatoes with juices
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup water
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and thoroughly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, crumble and brown the Italian sausage with finely diced onions until the meat is completely cooked and onions are translucent.
- Drain excess grease from the sausage and onion mixture, then stir in pasta sauce, diced tomatoes with their liquid, water, and Italian seasoning. Allow the sauce to simmer and develop flavors for approximately 12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook ziti pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it reaches al dente texture. Quickly drain the pasta and set aside.
- Create the cheese mixture by combining ricotta, beaten egg, freshly chopped parsley, one portion of mozzarella, and grated Parmesan in a mixing bowl until well incorporated.
- Spread a thin layer of sauce across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange half the cooked ziti, then evenly distribute the entire ricotta mixture over the pasta. Cover with half the remaining sauce.
- Complete the layering by adding the remaining ziti, topping with the final sauce layer, and generously sprinkling the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the cheese melts completely and develops a golden-brown crust with bubbling edges.
Notes
- Make Ahead Magic Prepare the entire casserole up to the baking stage, then cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking, which intensifies the flavors and makes meal prep easier.
- Customize Your Protein Swap Italian sausage for ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles to adapt the recipe to different dietary preferences or health goals.
- Gluten-Free Hack Replace ziti with gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles to create a celiac-friendly version without compromising the rich, comforting taste of the dish.
- Veggie Boost Incorporate extra vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers into the sauce to increase nutritional value and add depth to the flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 610 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg