Description
A comforting baked ziti dish featuring layers of ziti pasta, Italian sausage, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella, perfect for family meals or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ziti or medium tubular pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 1 1/2 cups whole ricotta cheese
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 onion, diced
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Fresh basil, chopped
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Butter (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti in salted water until just under al dente, about 1–2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and toss with a splash of olive oil.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown the Italian sausage, then remove excess fat. Sauté the diced onion until soft, then add garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in marinara sauce and basil, and simmer for 5–10 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, egg, parmesan, nutmeg, and parsley. Stir until smooth, then fold in shredded mozzarella.
- In a large bowl, mix the cooked ziti, sausage-tomato sauce (reserve some for topping), and ricotta mixture. Spoon into a lightly oiled baking dish.
- Top with reserved sauce, remaining mozzarella, and dots of butter if desired. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 10–15 minutes until the top is golden. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
For a lighter version, swap half of the ricotta for cottage cheese. Make sure to adjust the seasonings to taste and allow the casserole to rest before slicing for neat portions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: baked ziti, sausage, ricotta, comfort food, Italian cuisine, family meals
