Baked Ziti

Print Recipe

5 from 52 votes

Baked ziti, our delicious baked pasta casserole that you can freeze ahead for worry free weeknight dinners!

Prep Time10

Cook Time1

Course: dinner

Cuisine: American, Italian

Servings:

Calories: 366kcal

Author: Teri & Jenny

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

US Customary - Metric

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.

Video

Notes

Freeze Ahead: Make recipe through step #6. Place baking dish in freezer until completely frozen. Tightly cover with foil or plastic wrap and store in freezer until ready to use. When ready to use, preheat oven to 350˚F. Place covered, frozen ziti directly into oven and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes or until completely heated through and cheese on top has melted and browned. Serve.

Nutrition