The King of Casseroles Hearty Italian Sausage Baked Ziti with Three Cheeses

Sausage Baked Ziti

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Preparation time:25 Mins

Cooking time:50 Mins

Servings:8 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Ziti or Penne Pasta
• 5 pounds Italian Sausage (casings removed)
• 1 medium Yellow Onion, diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 (28 ounces) can Crushed Tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
• 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
• 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
• Pinch to 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)
• Salt & Black Pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley, chopped
• 15 ounces Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
• 1 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated (plus extra for topping)
• 1 large Egg
• 8 ounces Low-moisture Shredded Mozzarella
• 4 ounces Fresh Mozzarella, sliced or torn

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Boil ziti in heavily salted water until very al dente (about 2 minutes less than package directions). Drain immediately and set aside.
• In a large, heavy bottomed Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned through, then drain off excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon behind.
• Add diced onion to the pot and cook until softened (about 5 minutes). Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).
• Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to caramelize. Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, and basil. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook gently for 15 minutes, allowing flavours to meld. Stir in half the fresh parsley at the end.
• While the sauce simmers, combine ricotta, 1 cup Parmesan, and the egg in a medium bowl. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well until smooth.
• In a very large bowl, combine the drained pasta, about 3/4 of the tomato sauce, and half of the shredded mozzarella. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated.
• Spread half of the pasta mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Drop spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture over the pasta layer. Top with the remaining half of the pasta mixture. Pour the reserved sauce over the top.
• Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella and the torn/sliced fresh mozzarella over the very top. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.
• Cover the dish tightly with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 20 minutes, or until the cheese is deeply golden brown and bubbling furiously.
• Let the Ziti rest for 10 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with remaining fresh parsley.

Nutrition Facts

Calories	1227 kcal
Protein	19.9 g
Fat	24.4 g
Carbs	50.8 g
Fiber	19.7 g
Sodium	483 mg

Recipe Info

Category	Main Course
Cuisine	Italian American

Why This Italian Sausage Baked Ziti Recipe Reigns Supreme

When the craving for truly satisfying, hearty comfort food hits, few dishes deliver the robust flavour and texture profile quite like a well executed casserole. Our Italian Sausage Baked Ziti Recipe isn't just another pasta dish; it’s a culinary cornerstone built on layers of flavour designed to impress, whether you’re hosting a family gathering or simply seeking a stellar weeknight meal.

This particular rendition transforms the humble baked pasta into something truly special by prioritizing rich meat flavour and a luxurious cheese component, elevating it far beyond simple cheese and sauce.

If you’ve been searching for the Best Baked Ziti Recipe , you’ve found your definitive guide.

The Ultimate Comfort Casserole: A Sunday Dinner Staple

There is an undeniable romance associated with a baked casserole fresh from the oven the intoxicating aroma, the sight of bubbling cheese cresting over perfectly cooked pasta and this Italian Sausage Pasta Bake embodies that nostalgia perfectly.

It’s designed to be deeply flavourful, rich enough to satisfy the hungriest diner, yet approachable enough for cooks of all skill levels. This recipe yields about 8 generous servings, making it ideal for feeding a crowd.

A Cheesy Shortcut Past the Layered Lasagna Labor

While we all adore lasagna, sometimes the painstaking process of layering thin noodles, béchamel, and meat sauce can feel daunting, especially mid-week. This Baked Ziti With Sausage offers all the complexity of flavour without the construction commitment.

By using robust ziti tubes, we skip the layering, instead mixing the components intimately before banking them. This results in a dish where every single forkful is guaranteed to contain pasta, meat sauce, and that essential creamy ricotta filling.

The Richness Factor: Why Italian Sausage Makes the Difference

The true secret weapon in this creation is the use of Italian Sausage Baked Ziti meat. Unlike plain ground beef or turkey, Italian sausage (whether you opt for the classic Sweet Italian Sausage Baked Ziti or bring the heat with the spicy variant) comes pre-seasoned with fennel, garlic, and paprika.

As it browns, it releases complex, aromatic fats that immediately infuse the entire sauce base with a depth of flavour that takes hours of simmering to achieve otherwise. This immediately qualifies it as one of the superior Italian Sausage Baked Pasta Recipes .

Perfect for Feeding a Hungry Crowd or Lunch Prep Perfection

One of the greatest attributes of a baked dish is its resilience and ability to improve overnight. This casserole is perfect for prepping ahead of time; you can assemble it entirely, cover it, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking, making Sunday lunch prep incredibly streamlined.

On top of that,, leftovers reheat beautifully, cementing its status as excellent lunch prep perfection.

Assembling Your Baked Ziti Arsenal: Essential Components

To create this magnificent Sausage Marinara Pasta Bake , we focus on three primary elements: the flavourful meat sauce, the perfectly cooked pasta, and the decadent, creamy cheese component. Success hinges on treating each element correctly before uniting them in the final assembly phase.

Sourcing the Superior Stuff: Ingredient Deep Dive

The magic of any great comfort food lies in the quality of its foundational ingredients. For this recipe, we are using a pound and a half of Italian sausage, four cloves of garlic, a full 28-ounce can of high quality crushed tomatoes, and a trio of cheeses that provide textural contrast.

The Trio of Texture: Selecting Your Three Cheeses

The defining characteristic of this dish is its luxurious mouthfeel, thanks to our multi cheese approach. We use Italian Sausage Baked Ziti with Ricotta as our base structure.

First, we incorporate a 15-ounce container of whole milk ricotta, which we’ll mix with an egg to act as a creamy binder. Second, we incorporate 8 ounces of low-moisture, shredded mozzarella into the main pasta mixture for supreme meltability throughout.

Finally, we finish the top layer with 4 ounces of fresh mozzarella, torn or sliced, along with a hearty grating of Parmesan, ensuring that golden brown, slightly blistered crust we all crave.

Beyond the Basics: The Aromatics and Sauce Foundation

Our sauce starts simply: olive oil, onions, and plenty of garlic (four cloves, minced!). After browning the sausage and sweating the aromatics, we introduce the tomato paste first, cooking it for a minute to deepen its sweetness before adding the crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, and basil.

A small pinch of red pepper flakes is optional but highly recommended to enhance the sausage’s inherent spice. We simmer this gently for about 15 minutes to marry the flavours fully.

Tool Kit Check: What You Need Before You Start Cooking

Before you begin, ensure you have a large stockpot for boiling the ziti, a deep Dutch oven or skillet for the sauce, and critically, a 9x13 inch baking dish for the final bake. Since this process involves boiling pasta, simmering sauce, and layering, having all your chopping done and measured out your mise en place will ensure a smooth flow from start to finish.

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The Step-by-Step Journey to Golden Brown Perfection

The total active time for this spectacular casserole clocks in around 40 minutes, followed by a hands off baking period. We aim for a total cooking time of about 1 hour and 15 minutes, yielding 8 satisfying portions.

Building the Layers: Assembly of Your Italian Sausage Baked Ziti Masterpiece

The key to a successful bake is coordination. While the sauce simmers, you prepare the pasta and the cheese binder.

Phase One: Browning the Sausage and Simmering the Sauce

Begin by removing the casings from your 1.5 pounds of Italian sausage and browning it thoroughly in olive oil in your Dutch oven over medium high heat, breaking it up as you go. Once browned, drain off most, but not all, of the rendered fat.

Add the diced onion and cook until soft, then add the minced garlic and any optional red pepper flakes, cooking until fragrant about 60 seconds. Stir in the tomato paste, let it cook for one minute, then add the crushed tomatoes, oregano, and basil. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Allow this Spicy Italian Sausage Baked Ziti (or sweet version) sauce to simmer gently for 15 minutes.

Al Dente Excellence: Cooking the Ziti Tubes Just Right

While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil. Add your pound of ziti pasta. Crucially, you must cook this pasta 2 minutes less than the package instructions direct.

It must be very firm truly al dente —because it will continue to soften significantly in the oven. Drain immediately and set aside.

The Grand Finale: Baking Until Bubbly and Blistered

In a clean, empty stockpot, combine the drained ziti, about three quarters of the rich sausage sauce, and half of the shredded mozzarella. Stir gently to coat everything evenly. Spread half of this coated pasta mixture into your prepared 9x13 baking dish.

Next, take the ricotta mixture made by whisking the ricotta, one egg, and half a cup of Parmesan and dollop spoonfuls evenly over the first pasta layer. Top this with the remaining pasta mixture. Pour the reserved sauce over the very top.

Finally, sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and the fresh mozzarella pieces, followed by the last bit of Parmesan. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake at 375° F ( 190° C) for 30 minutes.

Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 15 to 20 minutes until the cheese is beautifully golden brown and the edges are fiercely bubbling.

Maximizing Flavor: Pro Tips for Next Level Results

To ensure your Italian Sausage Baked Ziti truly sings, remember the pasta must be undercooked. If it’s soft going into the oven, it will be mush coming out. Also, don't skimp on the fat when browning the sausage; that rendered flavour is the backbone of the sauce.

Finally, the 10-to-15-minute resting period post bake is non-negotiable it allows the layers to set, ensuring clean slices rather than a soupy mound.

Storage and Reheating Secrets for Lingering Deliciousness

This casserole stores exceptionally well. Once cooled, cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for up to 4 days. The flavours often deepen overnight!

Flavor Boosters: Simple Variations on the Classic Recipe

Want to mix things up? Try adding 1 cup of sautéed spinach or finely chopped bell peppers to the sausage mixture when you add the onions for added vegetable nutrition. For a tangier profile, substitute a small portion of the crushed tomatoes with a splash of good quality red wine during the sauce simmering stage.

Freezing Instructions for Future Casserole Cravings

This recipe freezes wonderfully, making it an ideal make ahead meal. Assemble the entire casserole but do not bake it. Cover the dish very securely with two layers of plastic wrap, followed by foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.

When ready to bake, transfer the frozen casserole (still covered) to the 375° F ( 190° C) oven and bake, covered, for 90 minutes before removing the foil and continuing the baking process as directed.

Pairing Suggestions: The Perfect Side Dishes to Accompany Ziti

Given the richness of the Italian Sausage Pasta Bake , you need something light and acidic to balance the plate. A simple side salad dressed with a sharp vinaigrette, perhaps using peppery arugula, is perfect.

Alternatively, serve alongside some crisp, garlicky green beans or steamed broccoli florets. And of course, no Italian meal is complete without crusty bread to ensure no last bit of that luscious sauce goes to waste!