Description
This classic baked ziti recipe is a cheesy, comforting Italian-American favorite featuring a rich sausage and tomato sauce layered with creamy ricotta, melted mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses. Perfectly baked until bubbly and golden, this dish is an ideal hearty meal for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 ½ pounds ground Italian sausage, hot or mild
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 5 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
- Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Pasta & Cheese
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
- 16 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese, grated and divided
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
- ¼ cup basil chiffonade, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare dish. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Cook sausage. In a large deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat until sizzling. Add ground sausage, breaking it up with a utensil, and cook until browned and lightly crispy, about 5-7 minutes.
- Sauté aromatics and build sauce. Add chopped onion and cook until tender and translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Mix in tomato paste and brown sugar until combined. Pour in crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Season with salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and garlic powder.
- Simmer sauce. Reduce heat to low and let the meat sauce simmer gently for 15-20 minutes to develop flavor.
- Cook pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ⅓ cup pasta water and drain the rest.
- Combine pasta and sauce. Add the pasta back to the pot with the meat sauce. Stir in the reserved pasta water and mix thoroughly. Remove from heat.
- Assemble baked ziti. Spread half the pasta mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Dollop ricotta cheese in sections on top. Sprinkle half the mozzarella and 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese evenly, followed by half the basil chiffonade. Layer the remaining pasta on top, then top with remaining mozzarella, parmesan, and basil chiffonade.
- Bake. Bake uncovered at 375°F for 30 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and edges are golden brown.
- Rest and serve. Let the baked ziti cool for 10 minutes before garnishing with remaining basil and serving immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
- For best flavor, use fresh basil chiffonade as garnish and within layers.
- You can substitute mild or hot Italian sausage according to your spice preference.
- Reserve some pasta water when draining to keep the sauce moist and help it cling to the pasta.
- Allowing the baked ziti to rest before serving helps it set and makes serving easier.
- This dish can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated; bake fresh when ready to serve.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes (baking) + 20 minutes (simmering) + 10 minutes (pasta boiling)
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: baked ziti, cheesy pasta casserole, Italian sausage pasta bake, classic baked ziti, ricotta mozzarella pasta, comfort food
