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Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage and Ricotta

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This baked ziti casserole combines creamy ricotta, savory Italian sausage, and tangy tomato sauce, all layered with gooey mozzarella for the ultimate comfort food. Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or cozy nights in, it’s easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ziti pasta (uncooked)
  • Salt (for pasta water)
  • 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed (hot or sweet)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (or dried oregano and basil)
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese (whole milk preferred)
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil or nonstick spray.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta and cook until just al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  4. Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the sausage. Cook until onion is soft, about 3 minutes.
  5. Pour in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Stir in Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), and salt & pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
  6. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan, egg, and parsley. Mix until smooth.
  7. In a large bowl, toss drained ziti with sausage tomato sauce until all pasta is coated.
  8. Spread half the sauced pasta in the baking dish. Spoon half the ricotta mixture in dollops on top, then sprinkle with half the mozzarella. Repeat with remaining pasta, ricotta, and mozzarella.
  9. Cover loosely with foil. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake another 15-20 minutes, until top is golden and bubbly. Broil for 2-3 minutes at the end for extra browning, if desired.
  10. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For gluten-free, use GF pasta. For vegetarian, swap sausage for mushrooms or plant-based sausage. Shred mozzarella yourself for best melting. Let casserole rest before serving for neat slices. Can be assembled ahead and refrigerated up to 24 hours before baking. Freezes well for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked ziti, Italian sausage, ricotta, comfort food, casserole, pasta bake, easy dinner, family recipe, cheesy pasta, potluck

Find it online: https://chrisfeasts.com/baked-ziti-with-italian-sausage-and-ricotta-easy-comfort-food-recipe/