Description
Satisfy your cravings with Cheesy Baked Ziti, featuring layers of savory Italian sausage, rich marinara, and gooey mozzarella. This easy recipe is perfect for a quick dinner and is a beloved comfort food that your family will enjoy.
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 the rack in the center position.
- Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook the ziti al dente according to package instructions, then drain.
- In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, onion, and garlic until the meat is browned and the onions soften, about 8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce, tomato sauce, salt, italian seasoning, and heavy cream, combining well. Fold in the cooked ziti and 1½ cups of shredded mozzarella.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 baking dish.
- Layer with fresh mozzarella slices and remaining mozzarella, cover with foil, and bake for 20 minutes until pasta is tender. Remove foil, sprinkle with parmesan, and return to oven uncovered for another 5 minutes until melted and bubbly.
- Serve hot, garnished with chili flakes and fresh basil.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, omit the sausage and add extra vegetables such as bell peppers or spinach.
You can substitute the marinara sauce with your favorite homemade sauce for a personalized touch.
This dish can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 495
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 924mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 72mg