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Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage

Published by Izzy

on Aug 24, 2022, Updated Oct 25, 2023

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This Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage is hearty, comforting, and delicious. It’s a satisfying dish featuring savory Italian sausage, tender pasta, three kinds of cheese, and a rich tomato sauce.

Serve this restaurant-quality Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage at your next get-together! Your guests will love the rich flavors of this cheesy pasta dish.

What Is Ziti?

Ziti is a medium-sized tubular pasta with a smooth surface. It is similar in size to penne pasta, the key difference being penne has ridges.

Ingredients You’ll Need

water
kosher salt
pasta
extra-virgin olive oil
Italian sausage
yellow onion
garlic
Italian seasoning
tomato paste
diced tomatoes
crushed tomatoes
black pepper
whole-milk ricotta cheese
mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese
Italian parsley
large egg

(Note: Full recipe is at the bottom of the post)

How to Make Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage

In a large dutch oven or pot, bring water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and stir until dissolved. Add the ziti and cook for about 9-10 minutes until al dente.
Transfer the pasta to a colander and rinse with cool water for about 30 seconds to stop the cooking process. Gently stir the pasta to ensure it doesn’t stick together.
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook for about 4-5 minutes until browned, breaking it into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the onion, garlic, and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Sauté for about 3 minutes until the onions are translucent.
Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Stir and simmer for 10 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Reserve 2 cups of the meat sauce and set it aside.
Add the pasta to the meat sauce and stir to combine. Set aside
In a medium bowl, stir together the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, parsley, and the egg.
Place half of the pasta in a baking dish. Add half of the ricotta cheese mixture on top. Spread half of the reserved meat sauce on top. Add the remaining pasta on top, followed by the remaining ricotta cheese mixture and the remaining meat sauce.
Evenly sprinkle mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese on top.
Spray a sheet of foil with oil and tent loosely over the baking dish. The foil should not touch the pasta. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and continue to bake for about 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and light golden brown.

Tips And Tricks

If you don’t have ziti pasta on hand, penne or rigatoni are good options.
Use mild or spicy Italian sausage to suit your taste.
Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package until just al dente.
If you don’t have ricotta on hand, use an equal amount of cottage cheese, cream cheese, or mascarpone cheese instead.
This casserole can be made up to 3 days in advance and then baked on the day you want to serve it.

Serving Suggestions

This hearty pasta dish is ideal with a fresh garden salad, thick slices of crusty bread, or crisp garlic bread.

How To Store Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage

Leftovers should be cooled to room temperature and then placed in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To freeze the casserole, transfer it to a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 2 months.

To reheat, thaw frozen leftovers in the fridge overnight. Place in a baking dish, cover with foil and bake in a 350°F oven until fully warm throughout. You can also cover the leftovers and reheat them in the microwave at reduced power until heated through.

About Izzy

I'm Izzy, a food lover and photographer. Here you’ll find a collection of simple recipes that are perfect for busy people. My blog aims to help you make and enjoy delicious and healthy food at home.