Description
A reliable, comforting weeknight dinner featuring tube-shaped pasta, savory Italian sausage, and a rich blend of ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or hot, in casings)
- 2 jars (24-28 oz each) marinara sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 15 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
- 3 cups low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Mince garlic, grate cheeses, and measure seasonings before starting.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti until al dente (8-10 minutes), drain, and toss with a little olive oil. Do not rinse.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and break into crumbles. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Add minced garlic to the sausage and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in marinara sauce and tomato paste. Simmer for 2 minutes. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, sausage sauce, ricotta, and half of the mozzarella. Stir to coat evenly.
- Pour mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown. Optionally broil for 2-3 minutes for a darker crust.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow sauce to thicken.
Notes
Do not overcook the pasta as it will continue to cook in the oven. Use low-moisture mozzarella to prevent a watery dish. Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes after baking to ensure clean slices. For a vegetarian version, substitute sausage with roasted vegetables like mushrooms and zucchini.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 22
Keywords: baked ziti, Italian sausage, pasta bake, family dinner, comfort food, easy recipe, weeknight dinner