5.0 from 18 votes
The Best Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
The Best Easy Baked Ziti - This baked ziti recipe with ricotta and Italian sausage is so easy because there is no layering.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 507 kcal
Course:
Main Course , Dinner
Cuisine:
Italian , American
Ingredients
- 1 lb. dry ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 lb. Italian sausage
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 (24 oz.) jars pasta sauce
- 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a high-sided 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the ziti pasta according to its package directions.
- Place a large soup pot, or a large high-side skillet* over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, and onion. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the Italian sausage to the skillet. Break the sausage apart with a wooden spoon. Cook for 10-11 minutes, until the sausage is browned, stirring occasionally. Drain off the excess fat if necessary.
- Add the ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir until the ricotta is smooth.
- Add the pasta sauce to the meat. Stir to combine. Bring the liquid to a simmer. Remove from the heat.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain the water from the cooked pasta and return the pasta to the hot pot. Add the meat sauce to the cooked pasta. Stir until the pasta is completely coated in sauce.
- Transfer the pasta to the baking dish**. Spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle evenly with the mozzarella cheese and the parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- *I use a 12 inch high-sided skillet for this.
- **If you don’t have a 9x13 inch baking dish with high sides, you may want to leave out a couple cups of the pasta mixture out so that it doesn’t bubble over in your oven.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1/10th of the recipe
Calories
507kcal
(25%)
Carbohydrates
44g
(15%)
Protein
24g
(48%)
Fat
26g
(40%)
Saturated Fat
11g
(55%)
Cholesterol
69mg
(23%)
Sodium
1402mg
(58%)
Potassium
737mg
(21%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
8g
(16%)
Vitamin A
900IU
(18%)
Vitamin C
11mg
(12%)
Calcium
264mg
(26%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 507
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1/10th of the recipe | |
| Calories | 507kcal | 25% |
| Carbohydrates | 44g | 15% |
| Protein | 24g | 48% |
| Fat | 26g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Cholesterol | 69mg | 23% |
| Sodium | 1402mg | 58% |
| Potassium | 737mg | 16% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 900IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 11mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 264mg | 26% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.