Cheesy Italian Sausage Baked Ziti
This hearty baked ziti combines perfectly cooked pasta with savory Italian sausage, creamy ricotta, and loads of melted mozzarella cheese. It's comfort food at its finest - easy to make, incredibly satisfying, and perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week ahead.
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Servings: 8
Calories: 485kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 15 oz container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded (divided)
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1 28 oz jar pasta sauce (divided)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Cook ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook Italian sausage in a large skillet, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat and chop into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, egg, parsley, 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese.
- Add the cooked pasta and sausage to the ricotta mixture, stirring to combine.
- Mix in ¾ of the pasta sauce, reserving the remainder for topping.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
- Top with remaining pasta sauce and the remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until hot and bubbly throughout.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Cook pasta just until al dente as it will continue cooking in the oven and prevent mushiness.
- You can substitute sweet or spicy Italian sausage based on your preference, or use a combination of both.
- To freeze: Cover tightly with foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Can be removed from dish once frozen and stored in freezer bags.
- To reheat from frozen: Thaw completely, cover and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake 10-15 minutes more.
- Fresh herbs like basil or oregano can be added to the ricotta mixture for extra flavor.
- For a lighter version, substitute part-skim ricotta and reduce the amount of cheese slightly.
- Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat well in the microwave.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 485kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 1250mg | Potassium: 580mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g