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4.8 from 69 votes

Easy Baked Ziti Recipe

This easy baked ziti recipe is a fabulous no-stress, no-fail dinner recipe that tastes great, looks beautiful, and couldn't be simpler to throw together.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Calories: 494 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Special Equipment
  • Large oven-safe skillet with a lid
Baked Ziti
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 ounces (about 2⅔ cups) uncooked ziti penne, or rigatoni
  • 1 pound Italian sausage mild or hot, casings removed
  • 6 cloves garlic pressed or minced
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • 2 14-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
  • salt and pepper
  • ⅓ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup (2oz) shredded Parmesan
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1½ cup (6oz) shredded mozzarella

Instructions

Start Pasta
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 475°F.
  2. Bring a medium pot of lightly salted water to a boil and cook ziti according to package instructions until just barely al dente. Don’t overcook the pasta as it will become too soft after baking. Drain and set aside.
Sauce
  1. While your water boils and pasta cooks, in a large, oven-safe skillet with a lid, heat oil over medium heat. Brown sausage, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. If there is a lot of grease in the pan, drain sausage or use a paper towel to absorb some of the grease.
  2. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Turn heat up to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce heat to medium-low and cover. Simmer,  covered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Stir in cooked pasta, cream, Parmesan, and basil. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
Bake
  1. Sprinkle mozzarella over the top and bake for 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Approximate nutritional information is for 6 servings.

Nutrition Information

Calories 494kcal (25%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4to 6 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 494

% Daily Value*

Calories 494kcal 25%

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