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Italian Sausage Baked Ziti

Italian Sausage Baked Ziti

This Italian Sausage Baked Ziti is loaded with sausage and cheesy deliciousness, making it a freezer-friendly family dinner.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 803 kcal

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • large deep skillet
  • baking dish

Ingredients
  

Pasta

  • 16 oz dried ziti pasta see chef tips #2

Sausage and Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lb ground Italian sausage hot or mild/sweet
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 32 oz marinara sauce I like to use Rao's brand
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Cheese

  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • ½ cup Pecorino Romano cheese divided

Garnish

  • minced fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and butter a 9x13" baking dish. Set baking dish aside.

Boil Pasta

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil ziti about a minute less than the package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside (stirring occasionally to prevent it sticking together).

Cook Sausage

  • Heat a large deep skillet over MED HIGH heat. Once hot, add the olive oil and sausage and cook, crumbling as it browns, for about 5-6 minutes, until cooked through. Drain.
  • Add the cooked sausage back to the skillet, then add garlic and stir well.

Add Sauce and Simmer

  • Pour in marinara sauce and add the red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine, then lower the heat to keep the sauce at a simmer.
  • Simmer for about 10 minutes, until heated through and slightly thickened.

Combine

  • Remove skillet from the heat, then stir in the cooked pasta.

Bake

  • Transfer half of the ziti mixture to the prepared baking dish, then top with half of the mozzarella and romano cheeses.
  • Top with the remaining ziti mixture, and remaining mozzarella and romano cheeses.
  • Bake in preheated oven, uncovered, for 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Cool and Serve

  • Remove from oven and set aside for 5-10 minutes, then sprinkle with parsley and serve!

Notes

I've estimated this recipe serves 6, but you're free to divide the baking dish into as many servings as you'd like. Other short-cuts of pasta can be substituted for the ziti.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 803kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 38gFat: 42gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 1728mgPotassium: 870mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1117IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 426mgIron: 4mg
Keyword baked pasta, Italian Sausage Baked Ziti
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