Description
This Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage is the ultimate comfort food—loaded with zesty Italian sausage, creamy ricotta, and layers of melty mozzarella. It’s perfect for a cozy family dinner or feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
1 lb ziti pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or spicy), casings removed
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz jar of marinara sauce
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1 egg
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Boil the ziti pasta in salted water until just under al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Cook sausage, breaking it apart, until browned.
3. Add onion and garlic, sauté until softened. Stir in marinara, pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes.
4. Mix ricotta with egg, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
5. In a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, layer half the pasta, half the sauce, spoonfuls of ricotta, and mozzarella. Repeat and top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
6. Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10-15 more minutes until bubbly and golden. Let rest before serving.
Notes
Use spicy sausage for a kick.
Undercook pasta slightly to avoid mushy texture after baking.
Let it rest before slicing to hold its shape.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 860mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: baked ziti, sausage pasta, comfort food