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Baked Ziti
5 from 3 votes

Baked Ziti

Far less fussy than lasagna but just as cheesy and comforting, this meaty Baked Ziti casserole calls for just 15 minutes of prep time. Then all that's left to do is bake the pasta entree, pour a glass of Italian wine, and dig in.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 488 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian, American

Ingredients

For the ziti:
  • 1 pound ziti pasta or other small, tubular pasta (see note 1
  • black pepper freshly ground
  • salt freshly ground
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
  • 1 pound Italian sausage see note 2, ground
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes undrained
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar optional (see note 3)
  • 1/2 teaspoon basil dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano dried
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
  • 8 ounces mozzarella cheese cut into 1/4 inch pieces (about 1 1/2 cups, fresh
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes optional (see note 4)
For the topping:
  • 8 ounces mozzarella cheese thinly sliced, fresh
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
  • parsley minced, for garnish, fresh

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish with olive oil. In a large stockpot, bring 4 quarts water and 1 tablespoon salt to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain well.
  2. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Add garlic cloves and sauté until browned, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove garlic and discard. Add sausage and cook until just starting to brown, breaking up clumps with a wooden spoon, about 3 minutes.
  3. Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, sugar, basil, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste (I like 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper). Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
  4. To the sauce, add the cooked pasta and stir to combine. Add cubed mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and crushed red pepper (if using) and stir to combine. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
  5. Cover the top of the pasta with the sliced mozzarella and sprinkle evenly with the remaining Parmesan. Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 30 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Notes

  • Ziti: Penne or any other small tubular pasta works perfectly as well.
  • Italian sausage: Or substitute ground beef or a mix of both.
  • Granulated sugar: Sugar works like a charm to balance the acidity of the tomatoes, but everyone likes different things. Feel free to omit it entirely or add as much as 2 tablespoons.
  • Crushed red pepper flakes: Omit if you don't like the spice. Add more if you do!
  • Yield: As written, this Baked Ziti is made in a 9- by 13-inch baking dish and is enough for 10 dinner portions.
  • Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Make ahead: You can make this recipe up to 3 days in advance and keep it in the refrigerator, or you can freeze the unbaked ziti casserole (wrapped in a few layers of foil) for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and then bake as directed in the recipe.
  • Meatless main: While I'll always crave the sausage or beef version, you could certainly trade in 2 cups of chopped, sautéed mushrooms if you're vegetarian or don't have meat on-hand.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 serving Calories 488kcal (24%) Carbohydrates 37g (12%) Protein 24g (48%) Fat 26g (40%) Saturated Fat 12g (60%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g (12%) Monounsaturated Fat 10g (50%) Cholesterol 74mg (25%) Sodium 701mg (29%) Potassium 264mg (6%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 378IU (8%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 311mg (31%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 488

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 serving
Calories 488kcal 24%
Carbohydrates 37g 12%
Protein 24g 48%
Fat 26g 40%
Saturated Fat 12g 60%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 74mg 25%
Sodium 701mg 29%
Potassium 264mg 6%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 378IU 8%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 311mg 31%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.