Description
Enjoy a hearty and delightful meal with this Cheesy Baked Ziti. Combining the flavors of Italian sausage, creamy mozzarella, and ziti pasta, it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Simple to prepare, satisfying, and full of rich flavors, this dish is ideal for families seeking a comforting homemade meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound italian sausage, ground
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce, or homemade
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes, for serving
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F with a rack in the center position.
- Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook the ziti until al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta.
- In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, onion, and garlic, breaking up the meat until browned and the onions are softened, about 8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the marinara sauce, tomato sauce, salt, Italian seasoning, and heavy cream. Mix until combined. Stir in the cooked ziti and 1½ cups of shredded mozzarella.
- Transfer the pasta mixture to a 9×13 baking dish.
- Top with the fresh mozzarella slices and remaining ½ cup shredded mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, until the pasta is tender. Remove the foil, sprinkle with Parmesan, and bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.
- Serve topped with chili flakes and fresh basil.
Notes
This dish can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator before baking. Just bake when ready to serve.
Feel free to use different types of cheese for additional flavor.
You can substitute ground beef or turkey for the Italian sausage if preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg