This classic Baked Ziti recipe delivers comfort food perfection in just 40 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknight dinners. Each hearty serving packs 27g of protein and brings together al dente pasta, rich sauce, and melted cheese in one satisfying casserole.
Whether you’re feeding a family or meal prepping for the week, this crowd-pleasing dish requires only 5 minutes of prep time before the oven does the rest of the work.
Ingredients Section
- Ground Italian Sausage (1 pound): Use quality Italian sausage for best flavor
- Tomato Base: Combine diced tomatoes (14.5 oz) and tomato sauce (8 oz) for rich sauce
- Aromatics: 5-6 minced garlic cloves and red pepper flakes for depth
- Herbs: Dried basil (1 tbsp) and oregano (½ tsp) for Italian seasoning
- Pasta: 12 oz ziti or similar tube-shaped pasta
- Dairy: Half and half (½ cup), parmesan (½ cup), mozzarella (1 cup) for creamy finish
- Additional: 3 cups water, black pepper to taste
Instructions Section
- Prep: Preheat oven to 450°F while gathering ingredients
- Brown Meat: Cook sausage in large oven-safe skillet until nicely browned (3-5 minutes)
- Build Flavor Base: Add garlic and pepper flakes, cook until fragrant (1-2 minutes)
- Create Sauce: Mix in tomatoes, sauce, herbs; simmer 5-10 minutes for flavors to blend
- Cook Pasta: Add water and pasta, bring to boil, cover and cook until tender (10-15 minutes)
- Make it Creamy: Stir in half and half and parmesan, season to taste
- Final Touch: Top with mozzarella, bake until golden brown (5 minutes)
One-Pan Magic
This baked ziti uses just one skillet from start to finish! The pasta cooks right in the sauce, soaking up all those yummy flavors while saving you from washing extra pots. The final trip to the oven creates that amazing golden-brown cheese topping that makes everyone smile.
Simple Swaps
No ziti? No problem! Any tube-shaped pasta works beautifully here – try penne, rigatoni, or even rotini. If you’re not a fan of spicy Italian sausage, swap it for sweet Italian sausage or ground beef. Want it extra creamy? Use heavy cream instead of half-and-half. For a veggie boost, add some spinach or mushrooms when you’re simmering the sauce.
Make It Ahead
This pasta dish stays happy in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. When you’re ready to eat, warm it up in the microwave or oven until heated through. Add a splash of water or cream if it seems a bit dry, and maybe an extra sprinkle of cheese (because why not?).
Serving Ideas
Round out this cozy meal with a simple green salad and some warm garlic bread. For extra fun, put out small bowls of extra parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, and fresh basil so everyone can dress up their portion. This recipe loves to feed a crowd – it’s perfect for family dinner or when friends pop over!
Baked Ziti
Equipment
- 12-inch oven-safe skillet
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 14.5 ounce diced tomatoes canned
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 5-6 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 Tablespoon dried basil or ½ cup fresh basil leaves added at the end
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- 3 cups water
- 12 ounces ziti pasta or similar pasta
- 1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Heat a large 12-inch or bigger oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, crumbling into small pieces, until browned, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, dried basil and oregano. Stir well. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5-10 minutes.
- Add the water and dry pasta. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes or until noodles are tender.
- Stir in the half and half, and parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle mozzarella evenly on top. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the cheese has melted and browned, about 5 minutes. Enjoy!
