Baked Ziti Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2024)

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Quick Summary

A big pan of Baked Ziti filled with pasta, cheese, sausage, and marinara sauce just might be the best dinner ever, especially when garlic bread is served on the side. This baked pasta is a family favorite!

Baked Ziti Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (1)

Baked Ziti is a staple dinner recipe at our house. Our boys LOVE this cheesy baked pasta recipe. My recipe makes a full 9×13-inch pan which makes it really good for feeding a crowd or having leftovers.

Leftovers always come in handy, especially during the week and our boys are always happy to see baked ziti on the menu, even a few times in one week. It’s that good!

This baked ziti recipe is also perfect to make for someone who needs a big, comforting meal. Take it to someone welcoming a new baby, to someone who is under the weather, or to someone who just needs a delicious meal!

You can’t go wrong with this pasta dish. It’s a classic Italian that everyone loves!

Table of Contents

  1. Ziti Pasta
  2. Marinara Sauce
  3. Sausage Baked Ziti
  4. Ingredients
  5. How to Make Baked Ziti
  6. How to Freeze
  7. Serving Suggestions
  8. More Pasta Recipes
  9. Baked Ziti Recipe
Baked Ziti Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2)

Ziti Pasta

Ziti is a tubed pasta like penne, but the edges are cut in a straight line instead of at a slant. Look for ziti pasta in the pasta aisle. If you can’t find ziti, penne is a great option since they are very similar. If you need the recipe to be gluten-free, you can use gluten-free pasta.

Marinara Sauce

We love to use our Homemade Easy Marinara Sauce or Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce for the very best flavor. Of course, if you have a favorite store bought marinara sauce you can use that in this recipe to save some time. I always keep our homemade marinara sauce in the freezer so it is ready to go! It keeps this recipe super simple!

Sausage Baked Ziti

This baked ziti recipe is made with Italian sausage. You could also use ground beef or turkey, whatever you and your family like best. If you want to make a vegetarian baked ziti, you can leave out the meat and add in your favorite vegetables. This baked pasta dish is easy to adapt to your liking.

Ingredients

  • Ziti
  • Olive oil
  • Italian sausage
  • Marinara sauce
  • Cheese– you will need ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Egg
  • Herbs– fresh basil and dried Italian seasoning.
  • Crushed red pepper flakes

How to Make Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (3)

Baked ziti is easy to make, there are a few steps, but the steps are easy! Let’s get started!

  • Let’s cook some pasta! Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta until it’s al dente. Don’t over cook the pasta because it will keep cook more in the oven.
  • Drain the pasta and put it in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and give it a good stir. This is going to keep everything from sticking together! Set aside.
  • Now it’s time to prep the sausage. Cook it over medium heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until it’s no longer pink. This should take 5-7 minutes. Once done, drain the fat and set it aside with the pasta.
  • In a medium mixing bowl combine ricotta, egg, half the mozzarella cheese, ½cup Parmesan, and all the seasonings.
  • Combine the pasta, ricotta mixture, marinara sauce, and cooked sausage. Stir gently so the pasta noodles stay intact, and then pour it into a greased 9×13-inch pan.
  • More cheese, please! Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
  • Bake until bubbly! The cheese will be golden brown and your house will smell amazing!
  • Let it sit for 5 minutes, garnish with fresh basil, and serve warm. It’s so cheesy, so filling, and so tasty. Bon appetit!
  • If you have leftovers, store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.

How to Freeze

  • Here’s a great way to have THE BEST dinner ready when you need it: assemble everything up until it’s time to bake in a disposable aluminum pan or freezer safe pan, then seal it well with a lid or plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Pop it in the freezer and freeze for up to 2 months. Let it defrost in the refrigerator for 24 hours before baking! Then follow, the baking instructions.
  • You can also freeze baked ziti. I like to freeze leftovers in individual portions. You can pull out the baked ziti when you need an easy lunch or dinner! Reheat in the microwave.
Baked Ziti Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (4)

Serving Suggestions

Baked ziti is very filling and good by itself, but if you want to serve a full meal, here are a few of our favorite side dishes to serve with baked ziti.

  • Garlic Bread
  • Simple Arugula Salad
  • Easy Green Salad
  • Simple Kale Salad
  • Roasted Broccoli
  • Simple Skillet Green Beans
  • Roasted Asparagus
  • Caprese Salad
  • Bruschetta
Baked Ziti Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (5)

More Pasta Recipes

If you are looking for more delicious pasta recipes, we have you covered! I have a feeling you will love them all!

  • Rigatoni with Sausage
  • Cacio e Pepe
  • Spaghetti and Meatballs
  • Spaghetti Carbonara
  • Vegetable Lasagna
  • Pasta Primavera
  • 4-Ingredient Ravioli Lasagna
  • Pasta Pomodoro

Baked Ziti Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (6)

Pasta

Baked Ziti

A big pan of Baked Ziti filled with pasta, cheese, sausage, and marinara sauce just might be the best dinner ever, especially when garlic bread is served on the side. This baked pasta is a family favorite!

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Review

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Cuisine Italian

Servings 10

Ingredients

  • 16 oz ziti or penne pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling over pasta
  • 1 pound Italian sausage
  • 32 oz marinara sauce
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 3/4 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Dash of crushed red pepper flakes, optional
  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
  • For garnish: chopped basil, if desired

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13-baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Use a colander to drain well. Drizzle pasta with a little olive oil and stir so it doesn’t stick together. Pour the pasta into a large bowl and set aside.

  • Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until it is no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. Discard the excess fat and set aside.

  • In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta, egg, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, basil, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using. Season with salt and pepper.

  • Add the ricotta mixture to the pasta. Add the marinara sauce, cooked sausage, and stir until combined, stirring gently to not break up the pasta noodles.

  • Pour the pasta into the prepared pan and top with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.

  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until cheese is golden brown and the pasta is bubbly. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil, if desired, and serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 528kcal, Carbohydrates: 42g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g, Calcium: 388mg, Iron: 3mg

Keywords pasta

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Baked Ziti Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2024)

FAQs

Should baked ziti be covered when baking? ›

To prevent the pasta from “steaming” and to allow the top to brown it should be baked uncovered. As long as ALL the noodles are thoroughly covered in sauce there shouldn't be a problem with the ziti drying out. However, if you want to cover it go ahead.

How do you keep baked ziti moist? ›

Make sure you bake it at 350 degrees, use a deep dish and cover it with foil. I always add a lot of sauce and that helps prevent the dried out top layer. Take out of the oven as soon as cheese is melted and golden. It's also important to make sure all pasta is covered with sauce.

What is the difference between baked ziti and baked penne pasta? ›

It is great for baked pasta dishes such as baked ziti, pasta casseroles, and pasta bakes. What is the difference between ziti and penne? The main difference between them is their shape and texture. Ziti pasta is longer than penne pasta and has a smooth, cylindrical shape.

Is baked ziti easier than lasagna? ›

well, lasagna noodles! The noodles are stacked in a baking dish with cheese and sauce between each layer. Baked ziti, however, uses ziti noodles that are tossed with sauce and cheese. There's still some layering involved but only a little so it comes together quicker and easier than lasagna.

Why is my baked ziti so watery? ›

Why is my pasta bake watery? There are a couple of reasons why your pasta bake might be runny. Sauce that is thick at room temperature or from the fridge will thin out in the hot oven. It is better to have a thicker sauce at the beginning, so it will be the right consistency after cooking.

How long do you heat baked ziti in the oven? ›

Oven. To reheat baked ziti that has been refrigerated, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Again, if it is in a glass dish, be sure that the glass has come to room temperature first to avoid cracking. Cover the oven-safe dish with aluminum foil and bake for around 35-45 minutes.

Do Italians eat Baked Ziti? ›

Baked Ziti is a popular Italian-American dish that is not commonly found in Italy.

Can you use any sauce for pasta bake? ›

MARINARA Store-bought or homemade will both taste amazing. Pasta sauce can be used too, whatever you have on hand! SEASONINGS Garlic, Italian seasoning, and fresh basil are all added to this dish.

Can you use rigatoni instead of ziti for Baked Ziti? ›

They're similar, but we like to use rigatoni for its ability to hold onto the sauce! You can always swap out ziti for rigatoni but make sure you check the cooking times. When it comes to baked ziti versus baked rigatoni, they're both made from cheesy, tomato-based sauces with ground beef.

What to serve with baked ziti? ›

Roasted broccoli, roasted Brussels sprouts, and sautéed green beans would all be great choices.

Should I bake lasagna in a glass or aluminum pan? ›

Glass and Metal React to Ingredients Differently

Acidic ingredients like tomatoes and citrus can react with aluminum (the most common metal used in bakeware), creating a metallic taste in your food. This is why lasagna and other casseroles with acidic ingredients are often baked in glass.

Why is baked ziti so good? ›

Baked Ziti is so much more than just a Bolognese pasta bake…. It's a big, juicy baked pasta that's loaded with flavour from a healthy dose of seasonings and topped with a generous amount of cheese. Cosy food that's easy enough for midweek yet worthy of company. Bonus: perfect freezer friendly meal!

Is it better to bake covered or uncovered? ›

Generally, casseroles with grains, rice or pasta that will cook during the baking process are usually covered, for at least part of the time. Casseroles made of cooked ingredients are usually baked uncovered. If you like a crisper, browner top, be sure the casserole is uncovered for at least part of the bake time.

Should you cook pasta covered or uncovered? ›

Should you cover the pasta when cooking it? It's okay to put a lid on the pot while you are waiting for the water to boil. However, after it starts to boil and you add the pasta to the water, you should remove the lid to prevent the water from bubbling over.

Should I put foil over my pasta bake? ›

We add stock to the baking dish along with the chopped tomatoes and veggies and cover with tinfoil before popping in the oven which keeps the heat and moisture in allowing the pasta to cook perfectly.

Is it better to cook lasagna covered or uncovered? ›

Lasagna should be cooked for at least 45 minutes in a hot oven at 350°F, though it really depends on the number of layers. To prevent an overcooked surface and an undercooked center, cover with aluminum foil halfway through the cooking process.

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