Description
Savory cheesy baked ziti delight brings Italian comfort straight to your kitchen with layers of rich pasta, melted cheese, and hearty sauce. Warm, satisfying flavors will transport you to a rustic trattoria, inviting comfort and culinary joy in every delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb (454 g) ziti pasta (or penne)
- 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage
- 2 cups (226 g) shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup (100 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 oz (226 g) ricotta cheese
- 1 (28 oz / 794 g) can crushed tomatoes
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4–5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Creamy Components:
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and position a rack in the middle. Boil pasta in salted water until just shy of al dente, approximately 2-3 minutes less than package instructions. Quickly drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown Italian sausage and diced onions over medium-high heat for 7-10 minutes. Incorporate minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes, stirring continuously for an additional minute to release aromatic flavors.
- Pour crushed tomatoes into the sausage mixture, blending with heavy cream, salt, black pepper, and a touch of sugar. Allow the sauce to simmer and meld flavors for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Create the first layer by spreading half the pasta-sausage mixture evenly across the bottom. Dollop ricotta cheese in generous spoonfuls, creating a creamy landscape across the surface.
- Carefully distribute the remaining pasta-sausage mixture over the ricotta layer, ensuring complete coverage. Generously scatter Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses across the top, creating a vibrant, anticipatory cheese blanket.
- Slide the uncovered casserole into the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes until the edges bubble and the cheese begins to melt. Finish by broiling for 2-3 minutes until the cheese turns golden and slightly crispy.
Notes
- Undercook ziti slightly during initial boiling to prevent mushiness when baked, ensuring a delightful al dente texture that holds up during the final cooking process.
- Choose high-quality Italian sausage with robust flavor, removing casings for better integration and more even distribution throughout the dish.
- Allow cheese to reach room temperature before sprinkling, promoting more even melting and creating that irresistible golden-brown top layer.
- Prepare the entire casserole in advance and refrigerate, allowing flavors to meld together, then bake when ready to serve for maximum taste and convenience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 657 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 2200 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg