Description
Cheesy Baked Ziti is your go-to comfort food, packed with rich flavors from Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and various cheeses. With simple prep steps and a delightful taste, this dish makes for a speedy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound italian sausage, ground
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce, or homemade
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes, for serving
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F with a rack in the center position.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Cook the ziti until al dente according to the package instructions and drain.
- In a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat, add the sausage, onion, and garlic. Cook, breaking up the meat, until browned and the onions have softened, about 8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Mix in the marinara sauce, tomato sauce, salt, Italian seasoning, and heavy cream until combined. Stir in the cooked ziti and 1½ cups of shredded mozzarella.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 baking dish.
- Top with slices of fresh mozzarella and remaining shredded mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes until the pasta is tender. Uncover, sprinkle with parmesan, and bake for an additional 5 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve with chili flakes and fresh basil.
Notes
For an extra touch, use homemade marinara sauce for enhanced flavor.
Feel free to add vegetables such as spinach or bell peppers for added nutrition.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg