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Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti

The ultimate comfort food, Baked Ziti is filled with cheesy goodness and flavorful Italian sausage. This easy weeknight dinner will satisfy any craving, making it a perfect choice for family gatherings!
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 27 minutes
Total Time 57 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 600
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound Italian sausage links
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow or sweet onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 14-ounce cans stewed tomatoes
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 pound ziti
  • 8 ounces mascarpone cheese
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 8 ounces sliced Provolone
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Equipment

  • Cutting Board
  • Saucepan
  • Frying pan
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Oven
  • Chef's Knife
  • Baking Sheet

Method
 

  1. Start by cooking the Italian sausage in a lightly greased pan over medium heat. Keep an eye on it as it browns on all sides, which should take about 8 to 10 minutes. Once browned, remove it to a cutting board and let it cool slightly. You don’t need to cook it through at this point; it will finish cooking in the sauce. When it’s cool enough to handle, slice it into bite-sized pieces.
  2. In the same pan, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat it over medium heat. Toss in the diced onion and sauté for about 5 to 7 minutes until it becomes translucent and soft. This step is crucial as it builds the flavor base for your sauce.
  3. Add the minced garlic to the onions and cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly to prevent it from burning. You should smell the fragrant garlic wafting through your kitchen at this point!
  4. Next, it’s time to add the Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes, followed by the crushed tomatoes and stewed tomatoes. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to your liking. Stir it all together and let it come to a gentle simmer. This should take about 3 to 5 minutes.
  5. Once simmering, add the sliced Italian sausage back into the pan. Allow everything to simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This will let the flavors meld together beautifully.
  6. While the sauce is simmering, cook the ziti in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
  7. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish to prepare for layering.
  8. To assemble, ladle about 1/4 of the sauce into the bottom of the prepared dish. Evenly spread half of the ziti over the sauce. Dollop half of the mascarpone cheese and cottage cheese over the pasta. Then, distribute half of the Provolone strips and half of the mozzarella.
  9. Pour half of the remaining sauce over the cheese layer, and then add the remaining ziti. Repeat the layering with the remaining mascarpone cheese and cottage cheese, followed by the final sauce layer. Top everything with the rest of the mozzarella, Provolone, and Parmesan cheese. This will create a deliciously cheesy crust when baked.
  10. Cover the baking dish with a piece of aluminum foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Bake for 25 minutes. After that, remove the foil and broil for a few minutes to achieve a lovely golden brown on the cheese.

Notes

If you don't have mascarpone cheese, you can use an extra cup of cottage cheese or ricotta cheese.