Description
This Cheesy Baked Ziti is a comforting Italian-American classic featuring tender rigatoni pasta baked in a rich marinara sauce with savory Italian sausage, creamy ricotta, and a melty blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. It’s perfect for a family dinner or meal prep, with layers of cheesy goodness baked to bubbling perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 (1-pound) box ziti rigati (or penne)
- 1 tablespoon salt
Meat Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
- 2 (24-ounce) jars marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cheese Mixture
- 1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 (8-ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook the Pasta: In a large stock pot, bring about 2 quarts of water to a boil. Stir in 1 tablespoon of salt. Add the pasta and cook until just al dente according to package instructions, stirring occasionally to prevent clumping. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the Meat Sauce: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the Italian sausage, crumble it with a spoon, and cook until just browned. Drain excess fat if necessary. Return meat mixture to heat and stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Fold the cooked pasta into the sauce, ensuring the pasta is thoroughly coated with the sauce.
- Assemble the Layers: Add half of the pasta and sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish. Stir the ricotta cheese container to smooth out the cheese, then drop dollops evenly over the pasta. Sprinkle all of the parmesan cheese and half of the shredded mozzarella on top.
- Finish the Assembly: Add the remaining pasta mixture on top of the cheese layer. Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella cheese evenly over the top layer.
- Bake: Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the dish is bubbling.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven, let the baked ziti rest for about 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and cooling slightly.
Notes
- For a toasted and browned cheese topping, bake the dish uncovered during the last 5-10 minutes instead of covering with foil.
- You can substitute penne for ziti rigati if unavailable.
- Drain excess sausage fat to reduce greasiness.
- Adjust salt and pepper to taste, especially depending on the saltiness of marinara sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 690 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 2429 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 98 mg
