
This Baked Ziti recipe is so classic and delicious and the perfect make ahead weeknight meal. You can totally make your own sauce but you can also buy a great quality jar from the store to keep things simple. We love this jarred marinara sauce.
I added a little bit of diced bell pepper to this easy baked pasta. It adds nice texture to the dish. You can totally omit it though, and make this dish even more simple. Our baked ziti so comforting, delicious and makes enough to feed a crowd.
This recipe also makes really great leftovers for the next day. It reheats really well and you don’t have to worry about this dish drying out since we’ve made ours pretty saucy.
How to make Baked Ziti

- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add a small handful of salt and pasta to water and stir. Boil pasta for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until pasta is al dente. Drain, toss with a teaspoon of oil, pour into a large mixing bowl.
- Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a large sauté pan and place over medium- high heat. Add sausage and break apart with a wooden spoon. Cook sausage for about 5 minutes or until evenly browned. Drain and add to pasta.
- Discard grease and add remaining oil to pan. Add onion, bell peppers and garlic to pan and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour onion mixture over sausage and pasta mixture and toss together.
- Add marinara, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella and ¼ cup parmesan and gently fold together until fully incorporated. Adjust seasonings as needed.
- Pour mixture into a lightly greased 8”x 8” baking dish and top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cheese bubbles and browns.
- Allow ziti to cool for 5 to 7 minutes before serving.






FAQs
Baked Ziti is a classic American Italian dish. It is made in a casserole dish, and typically uses a tomato sauce, and cheese, as well as other ingredients to suit your taste. It is prepared with cooked ziti pasta, and then baked in the oven
Yes! Prepare the recipe as directed, until it’s time to place it in the oven. Tightly wrap the ziti in foil and place it in the refrigerator for up to three days.
When ready to serve bake the ziti, with the foil, for 15 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until completely heated through.
Yes! Prepare the recipe as directed, until it’s time to place it in the oven. Tightly wrap the ziti in foil and place it in the freezer for up to three months.
When ready to serve place frozen ziti directly into a hot oven, with foil, for 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until completely heated through.
Variations
- The Italian pork sausage can be swapped out for turkey sausage.
- Sautéed mushrooms can also be swapped into for the sausage for the vegetarian friendly option.
- Sautéed spinach or kale can be added to the mixture to get more vegetables into the dish.
- Trying stirring a small amount of cream into the sauce before combining with the other ingredients for a richer sauce.
We love this baked ziti recipe so much. It’s simple, cozy and delicious. We also love that it only requires a handful of ingredients and that it’s a flexible recipe based on what you have on hand.
If you love baked pasta recipes as much as we do, we suggest checking out some of our other baked pasta recipes like our Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Roll Ups, our Baked Bucatini and Meatballs, or our Baked Turkey Sausage and Mascarpone Stuffed Shells. Enjoy!


Baked Ziti
EQUIPMENT
- casserole dish
INGREDIENTS
- 8 ounces ziti pasta
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 spicy Italian sausages casings removed
- ½ small yellow onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 cups marinara sauce homemade or store bought
- 2 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese divided
- ½ cup parmesan grated
- salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add a small handful of salt and pasta to water and stir. Boil pasta for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until pasta is al dente. Drain, toss with a teaspoon of oil, pour into a large mixing bowl.
- Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a large sauté pan and place over medium- high heat. Add sausage and break apart with a wooden spoon. Cook sausage for about 5 minutes or until evenly browned. Drain and add to pasta.
- Discard grease and add remaining oil to pan. Add onion, bell peppers and garlic to pan and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour onion mixture over sausage and pasta mixture and toss together.
- Add marinara, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella and ¼ cup parmesan and gently fold together until fully incorporated. Adjust seasonings.
- Pour mixture into a lightly greased 8”x 8” baking dish and top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cheese bubbles and browns.
- Allow ziti to cool for 5 to 7 minutes before serving.
Did you make this recipe? We want to see!
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This was one of those nights when you just don’t know what to have for dinner. so, after looking through my freezer and pantry, I decided to make this recipe. It is super simple to make. I did add a can of drained diced tomatoes and some Italian seasoning to the sauce mixture. My family is not a big fan of sausage but this was very tasty. I also like the fact it can be frozen, and it is pretty easy on the wallet. The only downside (no fault of the recipe) is portion control :)
I love the step by step with videos. Its very helpful! Can’t wait to try this recipe and more..
So happy to hear that! We’re trying to make things as easy and clear as possible for everyone!
Yummy and easy. Thanks!
Love this with Field Roast vegetarian Italian sausage.
Yum we LOVE field roast!
really nice
thanks…
That’s so yum!
It’s gonna be my next weekend receive for sure.
Love making Baked Ziti as comfort food in the winter! There is nothing better than a bowl with pasta, loaded with sauce and cheese! Never tried to make it with sausage but will use it next time!
It looks really great.
I really want it!!!
Made this for dinner tonight and it was a huge hit! :)
When you say 12 oz. of pasta is that before or after you cook it ?? I made it today and my pan was HEAPING !!! I didn’t know if it was all going to fit ! I was wondering if I did something wrong! But it looks really yummy so we will see how mine tastes !!