Baked Ziti

Name: Baked Ziti
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
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

How to make Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti ingredients laid out and labeled on a kitchen counter.

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.

A pot of marinara sauce next to a coated wooden spoon and blue gingham linen. — If you have a little extra time, our homemade Marinara sauce is delicious and perfect for this recipe!

Cooked ziti pasta tossed with a little olive oil in a bowl. — Cooked ziti pasta tossed with olive oil.

Cooked Italian sausages in a bowl. — Drained cooked Italian Sausage.

Sauted onion and green bell peppers in a skillet. — Sautéd green bell pepper, garlic, and onion.

A bowl full of ziti to be used in baked ziti. — Mix together the cooked pasta, sausage, onion garlic and green bell pepper and some of the cheese.

Baked ziti in a baking dish ready for the oven. — Place in a baking dish and top with more mozzarella and Parmesan.

FAQs

What is baked ziti?

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

Can this be made ahead of time?

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.

Can this baked ziti be frozen?

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.