Classic Baked Ziti
Classic Baked Ziti
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- 3 garlic, minced
- 1 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 3/4 cups canned diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
For the Creamy Cheese Mixture
- 1 3/4 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 egg, large
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For Assembly and Topping
- 1 pound ziti pasta, cooked al dente and drained
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, for topping
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, for topping
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, for topping
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the mild Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks, until browned. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
Stir in the minced garlic, diced yellow onion, and diced green bell pepper with the browned sausage. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened.
⏱️ 7 min
- 4
Add the marinara sauce, undrained diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, dried thyme, smoked paprika, onion powder, black pepper, seasoned salt, and red pepper flakes to the pot. Stir well to combine, then bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the meat sauce simmer for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 15 min
- 5
While the sauce simmers, prepare the creamy cheese mixture. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, sour cream, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Fold in 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until just combined.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
To assemble the baked ziti, spread half of the cooked ziti pasta evenly in the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the meat sauce, then dollop half of the creamy cheese mixture over the sauce.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Repeat the layers: add the remaining ziti pasta, followed by the remaining meat sauce, and then the rest of the creamy cheese mixture.
⏱️ 5 min
- 9
For the top layer, sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the dish.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375
- 11
Remove the foil and continue to bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
⏱️ 12 min•🌡️ 375
- 12
Let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Classic Baked Ziti
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- 3 garlic, minced
- 1 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 3/4 cups canned diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
For the Creamy Cheese Mixture
- 1 3/4 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 egg, large
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For Assembly and Topping
- 1 pound ziti pasta, cooked al dente and drained
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, for topping
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, for topping
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, for topping
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the mild Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks, until browned. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 8 min - 3
Stir in the minced garlic, diced yellow onion, and diced green bell pepper with the browned sausage. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened.
⏱️ 7 min - 4
Add the marinara sauce, undrained diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, dried thyme, smoked paprika, onion powder, black pepper, seasoned salt, and red pepper flakes to the pot. Stir well to combine, then bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the meat sauce simmer for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 15 min - 5
While the sauce simmers, prepare the creamy cheese mixture. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, sour cream, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Fold in 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until just combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 7
To assemble the baked ziti, spread half of the cooked ziti pasta evenly in the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the meat sauce, then dollop half of the creamy cheese mixture over the sauce.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Repeat the layers: add the remaining ziti pasta, followed by the remaining meat sauce, and then the rest of the creamy cheese mixture.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
For the top layer, sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the dish.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375 - 11
Remove the foil and continue to bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
⏱️ 12 min•🌡️ 375 - 12
Let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
⏱️ 5 min