Baked Ziti

Baked ziti is an easy to make casserole that tastes similar to classic lasagna.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword casserole, pasta

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 614kcal

Author Emma Chapman

Equipment

9x13 casserole pan

Ingredients

16 ounces ziti noodles
1 pound sausage
2 teaspoons olive oil
½ onion
4 cloves garlic
24 ounces marinara sauce
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
16 ounces mozzarella cheese
½ cup Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons parsley optional

Instructions

Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic.
In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat and cook the onion and garlic until softened, 2 minutes. Then remove from the pan.
In the same pan, brown the sausage until no pink remains.
Then add back in the onion and garlic plus marinara sauce, salt, cayenne and Italian seasoning. Turn the heat off.
Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to the package directions for al dente.
Drain, then mix into the marinara sauce mixture.
Add in half of the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan.
Lightly oil a 9×13 pan. Add the mixture to the pan. Top with the remaining cheese.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F (177°C) for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the edges begin to bubble.
Top with a few chopped herbs such as parsley, cilantro or chives (optional). Serve warm.

Notes

While I have used ziti noodles in this recipe, they could easily be replaced/substituted with the same amount (16 ounces) of a similar shaped noodle such as rigatoni, penne, or even bow ties.

I love marinara sauce for this recipe, but any flavorful tomato sauce will work, including if you’d like to use a homemade tomato sauce.

If you’d like to substitute the sausage for another ground meat such as beef or turkey, you can!

Save any leftovers by covering the casserole pan in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerating for at least 3 days. Rewarm in the microwave.

Nutrition