Baked Ziti
User Reviews
5
Baked Ziti
Description
Baked Ziti is prepared by cooking ziti pasta until al dente and tossing it with a tomato sauce made from browned Italian sausage, minced garlic, crushed tomatoes, and fresh chopped basil. Seasonings such as salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes give the sauce a mild kick. Heavy cream is stirred in near the end to create a creamy texture that softens the acidity of the tomatoes.
The pasta and sauce mixture is spread into a baking dish and layered with freshly grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Baking at 350°F melts the cheeses into a lightly golden, bubbly crust. Covering the dish with foil during baking helps prevent the cheese from browning too much.
Baked Ziti serves as a hearty, filling meal option suitable for family dinners. It pairs well with a fresh green salad or garlic bread for a full meal.
The recipe allows swapping pasta shapes like penne or rigatoni. Adding dollops of marinara sauce on top before baking can boost fresh tomato flavor. Using freshly grated cheese improves melting and taste. Spray foil with nonstick spray to keep cheese from sticking when covering the dish during baking.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ziti pasta
- 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. Italian sausage
- 4 garlic minced, cloves
- 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 8 basil chopped, fresh leaves
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated, or pecorino romano cheese
- 2 to 3 cups mozzarella cheese grated whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Generously salt the water. Cook according to package instructions. Make the sauce while pasta is cooking. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook sausage until completely cooked through, about 7-10 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute longer.
- Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and fresh basil. Cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes. Stir in heavy cream.
- Spread a thin layer of the sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Toss the cooked pasta with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and stir.
- Sprinkle the top with grated mozzarella cheese. Cook for 20-24 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden. Cover with foil if the cheese becomes too brown. *Tip -- spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray to keep the cheese from sticking to it.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for at least 5 minutes to allow it to set up. Serve warm.
Notes
- You can substitute penne, mostaccioli, or rigatoni pasta if you prefer.
- For similar flavor, dried basil can replace fresh basil by using 1 teaspoon.
- Adding spoonfuls of marinara sauce on top before baking enhances fresh tomato flavor.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 559 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 559kcal | 28% |
| Carbohydrates | 49g | 16% |
| Protein | 30g | 60% |
| Fat | 26g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat | 14g | 70% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Cholesterol | 101mg | 34% |
| Sodium | 1396mg | 58% |
| Potassium | 382mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 846IU | 17% |
| Vitamin C | 27mg | 30% |
| Calcium | 325mg | 33% |
| Iron | 9mg | 50% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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