5.0 from 18 votes
Baked Ziti
This Baked Ziti Pasta is made with ziti noodles, sausage, marinara sauce, fresh basil, spices, whole milk mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and heavy cream and baked until the cheese is melted. The best-baked ziti recipe! This is a perfect recipe to freeze or make ahead of time.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Additional Time
5 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 559 kcal
Course:
Lunch , Dinner
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Ziti Pasta *
- 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. Italian sausage
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 8 Fresh Basil Leaves ** (chopped)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan or pecorino romano cheese
- 2 to 3 cups Grated Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese
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.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- You can substitute with penne, mostaccioli, or rigatoni pasta
- ** may substitute 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- For extra fresh flavor, add some dollops of Rao's marinara sauce on the top of the pasta before baking.
Nutrition Information
Calories
559kcal
(28%)
Carbohydrates
49g
(16%)
Protein
30g
(60%)
Fat
26g
(40%)
Saturated Fat
14g
(70%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
7g
Cholesterol
101mg
(34%)
Sodium
1396mg
(58%)
Potassium
382mg
(11%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Vitamin A
846IU
(17%)
Vitamin C
27mg
(30%)
Calcium
325mg
(33%)
Iron
9mg
(50%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 559
% 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.