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5.0 from 6 votes

Italian Sausage Baked Ziti

This baked ziti recipe is loaded with sausage and cheesy deliciousness, is freezer-friendly, and a great family dinner idea!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 803 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian , American

Ingredients

  • 16 oz dried Ziti pasta see chef tips #2
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb. ground Italian sausage hot or mild/sweet
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 32 oz marinara sauce I like to use Rao's brand
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 3 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese divided
  • 1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese divided
  • minced fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

Prepare
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and butter a 9x13" baking dish. Set baking dish aside.
Boil pasta
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Boil ziti about a minute less than the package directions for al dente.  Drain and set aside (stirring occasionally to prevent it sticking together).
Cook sausage
  1. Heat a large deep skillet over MED HIGH heat. Once hot, add the olive oil and sausage and cook, crumbling as it browns, for about 5-6 minutes, until cooked through. Drain.
  2. Add the cooked sausage back to the skillet, then add garlic and stir well.
Add sauce and simmer
  1. Pour in marinara sauce and add the red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine, then lower the heat to keep the sauce at a simmer.
  2. Simmer for about 10 minutes, until heated through and slightly thickened.
Combine
  1. Remove skillet from the heat, then stir in the cooked pasta.
Bake
  1. Transfer half of the ziti mixture to the prepared baking dish, then top with half of the mozzarella and romano cheeses.
  2. Top with the remaining ziti mixture, and remaining mozzarella and romano cheeses.
  3. Bake in preheated oven, uncovered, for 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
Cool and serve
  1. Remove from oven and set aside for 5-10 minutes, then sprinkle with parsley and serve!

Notes

  • I've estimated this recipe serves 6, but you're free to divide the baking dish up into as many servings as you'd like.
  • Other short-cuts of pasta can be substituted for the ziti. Penne, rigatoni, faraflle, campanelle, etc are great options.
  • Pre-shredded mozzarella works just fine for this recipe, but I do recommend using a wedge of Pecorino Romano and shredding/grating it yourself.

Nutrition Information

Calories 803kcal (40%) Carbohydrates 67g (22%) Protein 38g (76%) Fat 42g (65%) Saturated Fat 18g (90%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 17g Cholesterol 110mg (37%) Sodium 1728mg (72%) Potassium 870mg (25%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 8g (16%) Vitamin A 1117IU (22%) Vitamin C 13mg (14%) Calcium 426mg (43%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 803

% Daily Value*

Calories 803kcal 40%
Carbohydrates 67g 22%
Protein 38g 76%
Fat 42g 65%
Saturated Fat 18g 90%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 17g 85%
Cholesterol 110mg 37%
Sodium 1728mg 72%
Potassium 870mg 19%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 8g 16%
Vitamin A 1117IU 22%
Vitamin C 13mg 14%
Calcium 426mg 43%
Iron 4mg 22%

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

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