Description
This Easy Baked Ziti is a comforting Italian-American casserole featuring tender ziti pasta baked in a rich and flavorful meat tomato sauce, layered with creamy ricotta and a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Perfect for family dinners or gatherings, it offers a deliciously satisfying meal with a golden, bubbly cheese top.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage (sweet, mild, or hot)
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 oz tomato paste
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning blend
- ½ cup water
Pasta
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- ½ tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
Cheese Mixture
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 cup Italian cheese blend (or a mix of mozzarella and Parmesan)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 handful chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage and Sauté Onion: In a large skillet or pot over medium heat, brown the ground Italian sausage until crispy and browned around the edges. While the sausage cooks, finely dice the yellow onion. Once the sausage is browned, add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté over medium heat until the onion becomes soft and translucent.
- Prepare the Tomato Sauce: Add the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and ½ cup water to the skillet with the sausage and onions. Stir everything together, then cover the skillet with a lid and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and let the sauce cook while you prepare the pasta, stirring occasionally.
- Cook the Ziti Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, adding ½ tablespoon of salt. Add the ziti pasta to the boiling water and cook until tender, about 7-8 minutes. Drain the pasta thoroughly in a colander.
- Mix the Cheese Filling: While the pasta and sauce are cooking, combine the ricotta cheese, Italian cheese blend, and freshly cracked black pepper in a bowl. Stir until evenly mixed. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (175ºC) during this step.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Return the drained ziti to the pot and pour in 1 cup of the prepared red sauce. Stir well to coat the pasta evenly.
- Assemble the Baked Ziti: Spread half of the sauced pasta into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Dollop half of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the pasta. Spoon half of the remaining red sauce and sausage mixture over the ricotta. Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta, ricotta mixture, and sauce. Top the assembled casserole with 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil, ensuring it is tented so it does not touch the cheese. Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- Broil for Golden Cheese: Remove the foil from the dish and switch the oven setting to broil. Broil the baked ziti for about 5 minutes until the cheese on top is melted and slightly browned. Watch carefully to prevent burning. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired, then serve hot.
Notes
- You can use either sweet, mild, or hot Italian sausage depending on your preferred spice level.
- Make sure to tent the foil loosely over the casserole when baking to prevent cheese from sticking to the foil.
- Broiling should be closely monitored to avoid burning the cheese.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute Italian sausage with sautéed mushrooms or plant-based sausage.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best texture.
