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Simple Recipes for Every Day

Baked Ziti

baked ziti in a baking dish with marinara, pasta, mozzarella and basil
  • Serves: 8
  • Prep Time:  35 min
  • Cook Time:  25 min

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 (14-ounce) jar tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 8 ounce fresh mozzarella, 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.

  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.

  3. Meanwhile, set a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, onion and garlic and cook, breaking the meat up with a wooden spoon, until browned and the onions are softened, about 8 minutes. If there is an excess amount of fat, drain off as much as possible into a small heat proof bowl.

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

  5. Transfer the pasta and marinara/meat sauce to a 9x13 baking dish.

  6. Top with the fresh mozzarella slices and remaining ½ cup shredded mozzarella, cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven, uncover and transfer back to the oven. Cook for 5 more minutes or until the cheese is lightly browned and the sauce is bubbling.

  7. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan, chili flakes and fresh basil.