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Sausage Baked Ziti
Golden and crusty on top and gooey in the middle, digging into this baked ziti reveals sumptuous layers of pasta, meat sauce, and cheese.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings:
8
Calories:
619 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound sweet Italian ground sausage
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 4 garlic pressed or minced, cloves
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 1 ounce San Marzano Tomatoes with purée, whole peeled, canned
- 1 teaspoon oregano dried
- 2 basil leaves roughly torn, plus more basil for garnish, sprigs, fresh
- 16 ounces ziti pasta or other tubular pasta
- 2 cups ricotta cheese whole-milk
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese shredded, or provolone cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly oil a 9 X 13-inch baking dish.
- In a large Dutch oven or saucepan, add the sausage and cook over medium-high, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a plate.
- To the same saucepan, heat the olive oil and add onion and garlic, and cook, stirring every couple of minutes, until soft and fragrant, 3-5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Use your fingers to break up the whole tomatoes into smaller chunks. Add tomatoes with their puree to the onion mixture along with oregano, and basil, and reserved sausage. Bring to a boil then reduce to medium-low and simmer until thickened, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high. Add the ziti and stir occasionally until the water returns to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes less than the package directions. The ziti should not be cooked through, as it will finish cooking in the oven. Drain well but do not rinse.
- Add cooked ziti and ricotta cheese to the sauce, and stir until combined. Spread half of the pasta mixture in the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with half of the mozzarella or provolone cheese. Top with the rest of the pasta mixture, sprinkle with the grated Parmesan, and shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese.
- Bake until the cheese is golden and the sauce is bubbly, about 20-25 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes, then serve.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
619kcal
(31%)
Carbohydrates
47g
(16%)
Protein
30g
(60%)
Fat
34g
(52%)
Saturated Fat
15g
(75%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
(18%)
Monounsaturated Fat
13g
(65%)
Trans Fat
0.1g
(5%)
Cholesterol
93mg
(31%)
Sodium
956mg
(40%)
Potassium
406mg
(9%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
550IU
(11%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
337mg
(34%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 619
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 619kcal | 31% |
| Carbohydrates | 47g | 16% |
| Protein | 30g | 60% |
| Fat | 34g | 52% |
| Saturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 93mg | 31% |
| Sodium | 956mg | 40% |
| Potassium | 406mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 550IU | 11% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 337mg | 34% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.