Description
A rich, creamy, and comforting baked ziti featuring spicy Italian sausage, a robust marinara sauce, and a luxurious ricotta-cheese layer. This forgiving one-pan meal is perfect for weeknights, meal prep, or feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) Ziti or Penne Pasta
- 1 pound (450g) Spicy Italian Sausage
- 1 medium Onion, diced
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 24 ounces (680g) Marinara Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 15 ounces (425g) Ricotta Cheese
- 1/2 cup (120ml) Heavy Cream
- 1 large Egg
- 2 cups (200g) Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup (50g) Parmesan Cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- Salt to taste
- 1/4 cup Fresh Basil, chopped (for garnish)
- Optional: 2 cups Fresh Spinach
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and shred the cheese. In a large bowl, mix the ricotta, heavy cream, egg, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti until al dente (1-2 minutes less than package directions). Drain and set aside; do not rinse.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the spicy Italian sausage to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned, about 8-10 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Stir in the marinara sauce, tomato paste, and oregano. Simmer for 5 minutes to thicken. If using spinach, stir it in now to wilt. Taste and adjust salt.
- Spread half of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Add the cooked pasta and toss with the remaining meat sauce.
- Spread the ricotta mixture over the pasta in dollops. Top with shredded mozzarella and the remaining Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden. For more browning, broil for the last 2-3 minutes, watching closely.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil.
Notes
Do not overcook the pasta before baking as it will continue to cook in the oven. Let the dish rest for 10 minutes after baking to allow the cheese to set. This dish can be assembled up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerated; add 10-15 minutes to baking time if baking from cold. It freezes well for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 22
Keywords: baked ziti, spicy sausage, creamy pasta, Italian dinner, comfort food, meal prep, one pan meal, easy dinner