Baked Ziti
A classic Italian-American dish featuring ziti pasta, savory Italian sausage, rich tomato sauces, and a blend of creamy cheeses, baked to perfection.
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Dutch oven or stockpot
- 9x13 Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage ground
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 4 cloves garlic roughly chopped
- 1 24-ounce jar marinara sauce or homemade
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes for serving
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and place a rack in the center position.
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the ziti until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large Dutch oven, heat over medium-high heat. Add the ground sausage, diced onion, and garlic, cooking until browned and softened.
- Drain any excess fat and stir in marinara sauce, tomato sauce, sea salt, Italian seasoning, and heavy cream. Combine thoroughly.
- Fold in the cooked ziti and 1½ cups of shredded mozzarella until well coated.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9x13 baking dish. Lay fresh mozzarella slices over the top and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let it rest briefly, then serve with red chili flakes and fresh basil on top.
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Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.