Baked Ziti
Baked Ziti
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 can diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces, undrained
- 1 jar marinara sauce, 24 ounces
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup pasta water, reserved from cooking pasta
For the Cheese Mixture
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
For the Pasta
- 1 pound ziti pasta
For Assembly and Garnish
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Add the ground Italian sausage to the pot with the onion. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned and no pink remains, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 10 min
- 4
Stir in the Italian seasoning, diced tomatoes (undrained), marinara sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and let it gently simmer while you prepare the other components, about 15-20 minutes. If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in 1/4 cup of reserved pasta water.
⏱️ 20 min
- 5
While the sauce simmers, prepare the cheese mixture. In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water if needed for the sauce.
⏱️ 12 min
- 7
Assemble the baked ziti: Spread a thin layer of the prepared meat sauce (about 1 cup) at the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place half of the cooked ziti pasta over the sauce.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Evenly spread the entire ricotta cheese mixture over the pasta layer. Add another layer of meat sauce (about 1 1/2 cups) over the cheese.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Top with the remaining cooked ziti pasta. Pour the remaining meat sauce over the pasta, spreading it to cover completely. Generously sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese over the entire top layer.
⏱️ 5 min
- 10
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese topping is melted and golden brown.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375
- 11
Remove from the oven and let the baked ziti cool slightly for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley, as desired.
⏱️ 10 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Baked Ziti
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 can diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces, undrained
- 1 jar marinara sauce, 24 ounces
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup pasta water, reserved from cooking pasta
For the Cheese Mixture
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
For the Pasta
- 1 pound ziti pasta
For Assembly and Garnish
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Add the ground Italian sausage to the pot with the onion. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned and no pink remains, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 10 min - 4
Stir in the Italian seasoning, diced tomatoes (undrained), marinara sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and let it gently simmer while you prepare the other components, about 15-20 minutes. If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in 1/4 cup of reserved pasta water.
⏱️ 20 min - 5
While the sauce simmers, prepare the cheese mixture. In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water if needed for the sauce.
⏱️ 12 min - 7
Assemble the baked ziti: Spread a thin layer of the prepared meat sauce (about 1 cup) at the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place half of the cooked ziti pasta over the sauce.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Evenly spread the entire ricotta cheese mixture over the pasta layer. Add another layer of meat sauce (about 1 1/2 cups) over the cheese.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Top with the remaining cooked ziti pasta. Pour the remaining meat sauce over the pasta, spreading it to cover completely. Generously sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese over the entire top layer.
⏱️ 5 min - 10
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese topping is melted and golden brown.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375 - 11
Remove from the oven and let the baked ziti cool slightly for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley, as desired.
⏱️ 10 min