Classic Baked Ziti
Classic Baked Ziti is a hearty, cheesy pasta casserole loaded with sausage, creamy tomato sauce, and three kinds of cheese. It’s a family favorite that's easy to prep and even easier to love.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 cup onion diced
- 8 oz mushrooms
- 1 cup green bell pepper chopped
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup Parmesan grated
- 2 cups mozzarella shredded
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in salted water until just under al dente. Drain and set aside. In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat, breaking it up as it browns. Use your favorite meat masher to make quick work of crumbling.
- Add diced onion and cook for a couple of minutes until softened. Stir in the mushrooms and bell pepper, and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and season with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Let the sauce simmer for 10–15 minutes, then stir in the heavy cream and cook for another 5 minutes. In a large mixing bowl with grippy feet, toss the cooked pasta with the creamy sausage sauce, ricotta, and Parmesan until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with shredded mozzarella. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden. Let it cool for 5–10 minutes before serving to help everything set.
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- Use full-fat ricotta for the richest texture.
- For a crispy top, broil for a few minutes at the end—watch closely so it doesn’t burn.
- You can assemble the entire dish ahead of time and bake it fresh.
- Not into sausage? Swap it with ground beef, turkey, or a vegetarian substitute.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 672kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 31gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 860mgPotassium: 796mgFiber: 5gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 919IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 359mgIron: 3mg
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
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