Description
This classic Baked Ziti recipe layers tender pasta with a rich sausage and tomato cream sauce, creamy ricotta cheese, and melted mozzarella and Parmesan for a hearty, comforting Italian-American casserole perfect for family dinners or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound uncooked ziti or penne pasta
Sauce and Meat
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
Cheeses
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
For Serving (Optional)
- Chopped fresh parsley and/or basil
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Pasta: Preheat your oven to 375°F and place the rack in the top third position. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti for 2-3 minutes less than the package instructions recommend to keep it slightly firm. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Cook the Sausage and Onion: In a separate large pot, add the Italian sausage and chopped onion. Cook over medium heat until the sausage is browned and the onion softens, about 7-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add Aromatics: Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and, if using, crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for about one minute until fragrant.
- Make the Sauce: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and heavy cream. Season with salt, pepper, and sugar. Allow the sauce to gently heat through for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to combine flavors.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta back into the pot with the sauce. Toss well to coat all the pasta evenly with the flavorful sauce.
- Layer the Casserole – First Layer: Spread half of the pasta mixture evenly into a 9×13-inch casserole dish to form the bottom layer.
- Add Ricotta Cheese: Dollop the ricotta cheese over the first pasta layer. It does not need to be perfectly spread; placing dollops here and there will suffice and create creamy pockets in the bake.
- Layer the Casserole – Second Layer: Spoon the remaining pasta mixture over the ricotta to form the top layer. Do not stir.
- Top with Cheeses: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese uniformly over the top of the pasta layers.
- Bake: Place the casserole uncovered in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes until the mixture is hot and bubbly.
- Broil for Browning: Turn on the broiler and watch carefully as you brown the cheese topping to a golden crust, which should take a few minutes. Remove from the oven once golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and/or basil if desired before serving warm.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef or turkey for the Italian sausage if preferred.
- Use low-fat cream or milk for a lighter version, but the texture and richness may vary.
- For extra flavor, add chopped fresh basil into the sauce while it simmers.
- If you don’t have ricotta cheese, cottage cheese can be used as a substitute.
- Allow the baked ziti to rest for 5 minutes after baking to set before serving.
