Baked Ziti
Baked Ziti pasta is a flavorful and comforting dish made with ziti noodles, tomato sauce, ricotta cheese, and melted mozzarella cheese. The dish is baked to perfection, creating a crispy and cheesy crust that perfectly complements the tender pasta. It’s a classic Italian-American dish that is both hearty and delicious.
it’s party time
Talking about the perfect dish to bring or serve to a party. Pasta is always the easiest and the most delicious food everyone loves to have on their dinner table. Of course, it’s loaded with carbs and that’s why it’s perfect to share with family and friends. This cheesy Baked Ziti is combined with a delicious pasta sauce. The Italian sausage brings the flavor to the next level. No wonder my friends always request for me to bring this dish to their party. They have the wine and I have the pasta!
If you’re looking for a pasta casserole dish, check out my Pasta and Chicken Casserole, it’s also cheesy and an explosion of great flavors. And for a normal day that you just want to jazz up a store-bought pasta sauce, here’s the Jazzed Up Pasta Sauce recipe for you.
ingredients and substitutions for Baked Ziti
FOR THE DRIED PASTA, OIL, AND AROMATICS
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Short dried pasta like Ziti, Penne, or Rigatoni is the most popular choice when making Baked Ziti. Use the whole package which normally weighs 16 ounces and cook it according to the package instructions.
- For the oil, heat a pan with olive oil first, then add the butter. The olive oil helps the butter melts faster and adds more flavor.
- Garlic and onion smell amazing when sauteing. They give the dish a robust flavor and naturally enhance the good taste of your dish.
FOR THE REST OF THE INGREDIENTS
- For the seasonings, it’s important to think of what dried herbs and spices will work best with the rest of the ingredients. For this Baked Ziti, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, red chili pepper flakes, and sea salt are your best choices to bring the most of the Italian flavors. Keep in mind that salt lifts the flavor so you’d always want to add it.
- For protein, mild Italian sausage without the casing works deliciously with this dish. With the mild sausage, you’ll be able to control the heat, whether you’d like to add more pepper or simply keep it mild.
- It’s perfectly fine to use a store-bought pasta sauce, but you can always make your own. If you don’t mind going through some extra steps of whipping up your pasta sauce, then it’s all fine and dandy.
- Honey is sweet and it gives a perfect balance to the acidity of the pasta sauce. It has a very earthy flavor and works wonderfully with any type of sauce.
- The combination of different cheeses boosts the umami flavor of the pasta. It also adds more protein and creaminess to this dish.
- And it’s always lovely to add garnishing, for color and to finish up the dish. Chopped basil leaves are perfect because it’s very Italian and it smells divine.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
- If you’re opting out of Italian sausage, you can use regular ground meat like ground turkey, chicken, or pork.
- You can also add more veggies to your pasta sauce like bell peppers, zucchini, green peas, or even cauliflower.
- For the cheeses, you can add cream cheese, or add some sour cream for extra tanginess. However, I find that Parmesan, ricotta, and mozzarella are the best combination for any Baked Ziti.
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how to make Baked Ziti
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Cook the pasta according to the package. Set it aside.
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Heat a pot with oil, add the butter, and stir until the butter melts. Add the onion, and saute until tender or translucent. Add the garlic and continue sautéing until aromatic. Stir in the seasonings, salt, red chili flakes, Italian seasoning, and fennel seeds. Continue stirring until well combined.
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Add the Italian sausage, and cook until brown. Pour in the pasta sauce and honey, stir, lower the heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Then add the cooked pasta, and stir until combined.
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Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Meantime, in a bowl combine ricotta and Parmesan cheese. Layer the pasta mixture and the cheese mixture.
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In a 9×13 baking dish pan, spread half of the pasta at the bottom of the pan then layer the cheese mixture on top. Add the rest of the pasta and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top. Cover with foil.
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Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for additional 15 minutes or until golden brown. Garnish with chopped basil.
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Baked Ziti
Equipment
- Deep pot
- 9×13 baking dish
- Bowls
- Spatula
- Chopping board
- knife
Ingredients
- 16 oz. Ziti, penne, or rigatoni pasta, uncooked
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed
- 4 cup homemade or store-bought pasta sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package. Set it aside
- Heat a pot with oil, add the butter, and stir until the butter melts. Add the onion, and saute until tender or translucent. Add the garlic and continue sautéing until aromatic. Stir in the seasonings, salt, red chili flakes, Italian seasoning, and fennel seeds. Continue stirring until well combined.
- Add the Italian sausage, and cook until brown. Pour in the pasta sauce and honey, stir, lower the heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Then add the cooked pasta, and stir until combined
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Meantime, in a bowl combine ricotta and Parmesan cheese. Layer the pasta mixture and the cheese mixture.
- In a 9×13 baking dish pan, spread half of the pasta at the bottom of the pan then layer the cheese mixture on top. Add the rest of the pasta and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top. Cover with foil.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for additional 15 minutes or until golden brown. Garnish with chopped basil.
Notes
frequently ask questions
WHAT TO SERVE WITH BAKED ZITI
- Garlic bread is nice but if you’re thinking it’s too much carb, then fix a nice mixed green salad on the side. A light warm soup like squash, mushrooms, or even chicken soup is also great with any pasta. The best way for me is to eat the Baked Ziti by itself.
HOW TO STORE IT
- I divide the pasta into smaller portions in a freezer bag or containers and freeze them for 3-4 weeks. Or it stays fresh for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
CAN IT BE VEGETARIAN
- Yes, you can use cauliflower rice to add to the pasta sauce or break up those veggie burgers (like ground meat) for added protein. Or just add lots of veggies like bell pepper, zucchini, green peas, roasted eggplant, and even roasted winter squash.
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Hi there! Nice to meet you. My name is Jen.
I’m a mom of 2 wonderful girls. I love to prepare and cook home-cooked meals. Cooking and planning your meals might sound like another chore added to your already long list of things to do. Believe me, I’ve been there. However, cooking more meals at home is worth all the effort. After years of cooking for my family and teaching culinary classes, I can honestly say that I have more control over the quality of the ingredients I use. That means I’m eating a lot better.
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring and you don’t have to eat the same thing repeatedly. There are ways we can do and naturally enhance the flavor of our food and enjoy home-cooked meals.