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    Baked Ziti

    Updated December 11, 2025 / By Holly Erickson

    Italian-American comfort food doesn’t get any more classic than a big baking dish full of my cheesy baked ziti recipe. 

    Homemade baked ziti fresh from the oven topped with fresh basil and grated Parmesan, a classic Italian casserole

    My baked ziti recipe a cheese-loaded, red sauced, pan-o-carbs that gives off the vibe of indulgence and generosity that every meal should. Like classic vodka sauce (and so many pasta recipes) it’s hassle-free, and pretty quick. Baked ziti is probably the most iconic of all the baked pastas, but baked rigatoni, baked ravioli, and baked tortellini are all worth a try, too! 

    Back when I was a nanny, the family I worked for had dinner with a chef friend a lot. He would always bring baked pasta casseroles like this one. He’d use almost any bite-sized pasta shape, pour in some sauce, add a few extras (olives, spinach, sausage, etc), top it with cheese and bake! Baked pasta is perfect for a party because you actually get to chat with your guests while it bakes. 

    Ingredients laid out for homemade baked ziti: pasta, ground sausage, marinara, cream, onion and mozzarella

    Baked Ziti Ingredients + Swaps

    • Ziti pasta: Ziti is a hollow pasta shape that is more narrow than rigatoni, and it usually has smooth sides. If you have trouble finding it, penne or even rigatoni is a fine substitute.
    • Red sauce: I use both marinara sauce & tomato sauce. The marinara can be jarred or homemade, and the tomato sauce is the just kind you’ll find in a can.
    • Cheese: Three cheeses make my baked ziti a recipe that would do Carmela Soprano proud. You’ll need Parmesan, shredded mozzarella, and fresh mozzarella, the kind you would use for a caprese salad.
    • Sausage: Sweet Italian sausage or hot Italian sausage both work well. Or you can swap in a vegetarian sausage like Beyond or Impossible.
    • Onions & garlic: Don’t cook Italian food without ‘em!
    • Heavy cream: If you don’t do cream, you could skip it, but it adds so much richness to the baked ziti! It makes it taste like a drippy-candle Italian restaurant dinner.
    • Fresh basil: Baked ziti needs a little lift, and fresh basil is *chef’s kiss!* 
    browned ground sausage, onion and garlic cooking in a pot to make cozy and comforting homemade baked ziti
    red tomato sauce with ground Italian sausage cooking in a pan for homemade baked ziti

    What Our Readers Say About This Recipe

    Made this tonight, and it was delicious! In the words of my 3-year-old daughter, it was “yummy in my tummy!” This is the 4th recipe that I’ve made from your blog, and all have absolutely been 5 stars!!!! - Erin

    ground sausage and homemade creamy tomato sauce being stirred in a pot with a wooden spoon to make classic baked Ziti
    cooked ziti pasta and shredded mozzarella being added to a pot with homemade ziti sauce and ground sausage

    How To Make Baked Ziti

    1. Cook the ziti in a big pot of salted water. Salt your pasta water like the sea, and cook until it’s just barely al dente. 
    2. Brown the ground sausage.
    3. Pour in tomato sauces, cream and seasonings.
    4. Stir in the ziti and shredded mozz. 
    5. Assemble baked ziti! Ladle the sauced up ziti into a baking dish. 
    6. Top with slices of fresh mozzarella, more shredded mozzarella and Parmesan. 
    7. Cover with a layer of foil and bake for about 20 minutes at 375°F. 
    8. Uncover the ziti for a few minutes at the end, so the top gets brown and bubbly. 
    ziti pasta in a pot with creamy marinara sauce, mozzarella and basil ready to be transferred to a baking dish
    ziti pasta in creamy marinara sauce with Italian ground sausage

    Baked Ziti Tips

    • For a baked pasta like this, slightly undercook the pasta when you boil it by taking 2-3 minutes off the suggested cooking time. It will finish cooking in the oven. 
    • To use gluten-free pasta in baked ziti, make sure the pasta isn’t cooked all the way through or it will get mushy. I like the Jovial brand, but use whatever you like. 
    • You can use a blend of roasted vegetables in place of the sausage to make a vegetarian version. 
    ziti pasta in creamy marinara sauce with Italian ground sausage topped with sliced mozzarella ready to bed baked
    Homemade baked ziti fresh from the oven topped with fresh basil and grated Parmesan, a classic Italian casserole

    How To Store + Freeze Baked Ziti 

    Leftover baked ziti is a gift, a treasure to be cherished. Store it in the fridge for up to 4 days and enjoy! If you are meal prepping and want to freeze the entire pan, just bake it in a freezer-friendly container, like an aluminum pan. Let it cool after baking, label it with the date you baked it (or a “good until” date) and then store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. 

    Homemade baked ziti fresh from the oven topped with fresh basil and grated Parmesan, a classic Italian casserole
    Homemade baked ziti fresh from the oven topped with fresh basil and grated Parmesan, a classic Italian casserole

    More Italian American Pasta Recipes To Love

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    Homemade baked ziti fresh from the oven topped with fresh basil and grated Parmesan, a classic Italian casserole

    Baked Ziti Recipe

    Updated December 11, 2025

    By Holly Erickson

    • Serves:  8
    • Prep Time:  35 min
    • Cook Time:  25 min
    • Calories:  575

    Description

    Warm, hearty and easy to make, this Baked Ziti recipe layers ziti pasta, rich tomato-sausage sauce, creamy mozzarella and Parmesan, then bakes until golden and bubbly — perfect for cozy dinners, weeknight meals, or feeding a crowd.

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      Ingredients

      • 1 pound ziti pasta
      • 1 pound Italian sausage, ground
      • 1 cup diced yellow onion
      • 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
      • 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce, or homemade
      • 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
      • 1 teaspoon sea salt
      • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
      • ½ cup heavy cream
      • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
      • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
      • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
      • ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes, for serving
      • 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil

      Method

      1. Preheat the oven to 375°F with a rack in the center position.

        Ingredients laid out for homemade baked ziti: pasta, ground sausage, marinara, cream, onion and mozzarella

      2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat and salt it. Cook the ziti, al dente according to the package instructions. Drain.

        salt and water being added to a pot to use to boil and cook noodles

      3. Meanwhile, set a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, onion and garlic and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the meat is browned and the onions are softened, about 8 minutes. Drain off any excess fat into a small bowl, discard.

        browned ground sausage, onion and garlic cooking in a pot to make cozy and comforting homemade baked ziti

      4. Add the marinara sauce, tomato sauce, salt, Italian seasoning and heavy cream, stir until combined. Stir in the cooked ziti and 1½ cups shredded mozzarella. 

        red tomato sauce with ground Italian sausage cooking in a pan for homemade baked ziti

      5. Transfer the pasta mixture to a 9x13 baking dish.

        ziti pasta in creamy marinara sauce with Italian ground sausage

      6. Top with the fresh mozzarella slices and remaining ½ cup shredded mozzarella, cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes, until the pasta is tender. Remove the dish from the oven, discard the foil and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Return to the oven uncovered and bake for about 5 more minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.

        ziti pasta in creamy marinara sauce with Italian ground sausage topped with sliced mozzarella ready to bed baked

      7. Serve sprinkled with chili flakes and fresh basil.

        Homemade baked ziti fresh from the oven topped with fresh basil and grated Parmesan, a classic Italian casserole
      Related Recipes

      Nutrition Info

      • Per Serving
      • Amount
      • Calories 575
      • Protein 35 g
      • Carbohydrates 52 g
      • Total Fat 26 g
      • Dietary Fiber 4 g
      • Cholesterol 80 mg
      • Sodium 914 mg
      • Total Sugars 4 g

      Baked Ziti

      Questions & Reviews

      Rated 5 stars by 12 readers

      or
      • Yelena

        I just made this, and everyone loved it! Im planning to freeze the leftovers. Whats the best way to reheat baked ziti from frozen?

        Hi Yelena, bake it covered in a 375°F oven for about an hour, then uncover and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. Adding a little water or pasta sauce before baking helps prevent dryness. If you let it thaw in the fridge first you'll just need to do 350F, cover it will foil and bake for about 25 minutes.

      • Jordan

        I LOVE this recipe. Unfortunately, I have a picky eater who doesn't like the texture of the meat in this dish. If I were to leave the meat out, do you recommend any adjustments to compensate for losing the flavor of the meat?

        I would personally add a little crushed fennel seeds to compensate for the lack of sausage, but really you can just leave it out and it will still taste great! You could also try a chicken sausage, ground chicken has a much better texture than beef or pork in my opinion. Enjoy.

      • Terry

        Can you make the baked ziti ahead of time? Say a day or two?

        Sure! Just reheat in the oven covered with foil. Hope you enjoy!

      • Julie

        Have you tried this recipe with other pastas? I am trying to use what I have on hand. I have a box of cellentani that I think would probably work well as it's also along noodle like ziti.

        I'm sure it will be fine, hope you enjoy Julie!

      • Jamie

        Hello! Can I make this dish ahead a day ahead of time and bake on the day of? How and which step could I refrigerate it?

        When you add the cheese in step 6, cover it and place it in the fridge and bake it the next day.

      • Erin

        Bake and then freeze? What is best? I want to take it to a friend who had surgery but she asked that all things are able to go into the freezer! Thanks for your help!

        Yes. Bake and then freeze. She can thaw and reheat as needed.

      • Allison

        Aloha! Does this freeze well?

        Hi Allison! Yes, baked ziti is a great freezer meal! It'll keep in the freezer for about a month.

      • Mel

        5-star rating

        Hello! Question, if reheating this after preparing and then freezing for later, how do you recommend this be done?

        Thank you! Your recipes are consistently amazing!

        Thanks Mel! We are so happy you love our recipes. Bake and then freeze! You can thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat covered with foil in the oven on 350F until heated through, or just scoop out portions and reheat in the microwave. Hope you enjoy!

      • Alison

        5-star rating

        Ok, so Im writing a review not only on this recipe, but on the website in particular. I have made about 15 things so far, and they have all been awesome. No bland, mundane things that are all hyped up on someones blog who THINKS they can cook, but cant. Each dish on The Modern Proper has been a winner, a keeper, and this one is no exception. The items and quantities are always easy to deal with, the spice measurements easy, (ie. one teaspoon or tablespoon of most ingredients), and everyone in the family has enjoyed everything to date. I cant tell you how refreshing it is to just pick out a recipe, and know it will be great! This baked ziti was so very simple to make, delicious, and with no waste of ingredients. Thanks Modern Proper, keep up the great work, looking forward to the next food adventure!

        This means so much to us to hear. Thank you Alison! We are so happy that you are loving our recipes.

      • Erin

        5-star rating

        YUM! Easy recipe to make ahead. I did a version with meat and a herby vegetarian version, and added a big handful of frozen chopped spinach to each to sneak in some more nutrition. Both were great. Crowd pleaser - thanks ladies!

        Thanks Erin, so glad you loved it!

      • Nicolette

        5-star rating

        My family loved it! I had rigatoni on hand so I used that instead of ziti but only par boiled the noodles before baking since they are not as sturdy of a noodle.

        Thanks Nicolette, we are so glad you loved it!

      • Erin

        5-star rating

        Love this dish. It’s my go-to dish for bringing to friends who have had new babies! Such a comfort meal

        Thank you Erin, we are so glad you loved it!

      • Taylor

        5-star rating

        I have been making this recipe roughly every other week for the past year and I swear by it! It’s my favorite thing to make guests and everyone always loves it. I love all MP recipes I’ve made but this one is definitely my favorite

        Wow! So amazing to hear, we are so glad you love it so much!

      • Susy

        5-star rating

        The baked ziti was delicious and a hit with my husband. I will definitely keep this recipe in my rotation. I didn’t realize that it made so many servings so we will have pasta for the next few days lol.

        Thanks Susy! We are so happy you both loved it!

      • Ellen

        5-star rating

        When the kids ask for seconds you know you have a winner!

        YESSSSSS! There is nothing better than that Ellen! So happy you and your family enjoyed it!

      • Lea

        5-star rating

        This was so good!! Easy to make, and really delicious. Great for big families, when you have guests - or just want to have some tasty leftovers. I will make this again and again.

        This is so great to hear, Lea! Thank you so much, we are so happy you enjoyed it!

      • Lauren

        5-star rating

        LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe. Such a great dish to a family who is in need of a meal (new baby, illness, etc). I made it multiple times and it is always a hit even with my picky eater. I use 1.5 pounds of Italian sausage but otherwise make it as is. 5+ stars!

        Yes!! We're so glad it's a hit! ❤️

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