Italian pasta(Classic Baked Ziti) recipe, how to make it?

December 12, 2021

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Friendly and soothing, this is an effortless classic Italian Baked Ziti recipe. It is served with Italian Sausage, tomato sauce, and cheese to the most. This recipe is quite kind with a side of Homemade Garlic Bread.

Italian Baked Ziti | A Classic Dinner

Adore Lasagna but hate the time it takes to make it? Baked Ziti delivers all of the same flavors and ease that lasagna does except with way less struggle.

Meaty tomato sauce, fill pasta, and all of that thawed gooey cheese. Today’s classic Baked Ziti recipe creates a large 9×13 pan. It is ideal for big families or to use as scraps.

Main Ingredients Needed for Italian Ziti

With a pair of pantry staples, you can keep this Baked Ziti recipe ready for dinner tonight. Here is what you will require:

Ziti Pasta – this is only a typical pasta shape, penne will work quite well in its place.
Sweet Italian Sausage – I utilized sweet Italian Sausage here though feel free to use calm or hot!
Olive Oil, Onion + Garlic – these three are employed with the sausage to add some fine flavors.
Marinara Sauce, Tomatoes + Water – this 3 drive up the sauce. I utilized store-bought marinara sauce (Rao’s). It’s slightly costly despite so worth it.
Oregano, Basil, Bay Leaves, Salt + Pepper – these spices and condiments help flavor the sauce.
Mozzarella + Part-Skim Mozzarella – I utilized a mix of full fat and a lower fat mozzarella in this recipe. Do not worry, it always tastes amazing.
Parmesan – I also utilized parmesan for a wee bit more cheesy oomph.

Baked Ziti Variations

Everyone has their covert tips and tricks in making Baked Ziti their own. In my house, I promote it. Feel free to utilize my recipe as a base. Then, customize it to your taste. Here are many alternatives to get you begun:

Vegetarian Baked Ziti: feeling free to make this a vegetarian dish by ditching out any meat products. Then, supplement it with more additional veggies.
Adding Vegetables: you can simply use vegetables in this dish. Regard wilting spinach, add shredded zucchini, or sliced carrots to this dish. You can also help your vegetables on the side.
Using Different Meat: Though I use a pork Italian sausage for this baked ziti recipe. You can simply substitute it with base beef or ground turkey.

How you can Make Italian Baked Pasta/Ziti

For complete facts on how to make baked ziti can be seen in the recipe card down below 🙂.

Step 1: Boiling the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook ziti according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: Browning the Meat

In other pot or deep skillet with tall sides, warming the pan over medium heat. Brown sausage, splitting apart as it boils. Drain if you like. Substitute back in the pan. To the boiled sausage, add olive oil, onion, and garlic and saute until mainly delicate.

Step 3: Make the Sauce

Start in chopped tomatoes, marinara sauce, water, basil, oregano, bay leaves, salt, pepper. Mix well. Cover and simmer. Flavor sauce and modify seasonings. Empty bay leaves.

Adding boiled ziti to the sauce and churn to coat. Adding in new mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Prompt to melt slightly.

Step 4: Bake

Pour into lightly oiled 9×13 pan. Spread with shredded mozzarella cheese, cover with lightly oiled foil and bake. Top with diced parsley (optional) and serve hot.

Storing Italian Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti will survive in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 4-5 days! Which implies it’s great for scraps and meal prep. In another way, you can make two batches and freeze one part for later!

Freezing Instructions

One of the finest parts about Baked Ziti is that it can be frozen. Frozen to survive even lengthy and make an awesome comfortable dinner for the future. I love when that occurs!

Just fold the recipe, bake one part, and with the other stock in a freezable container before baking. Be certain to cover tightly with aluminum foil. Wrapping it in a plastic sheet before freezing. Then, Freeze for up to 3 months.

When keen to bake, thaw in the fridge overnight then bake consequently.

Test this Baked Ziti soon, I know you will adore it!

The recipe card is down below, enjoy 🙂.

Classic Italian Baked Ziti

Warm and soothing this is an easy-to-make classic Baked Ziti recipe. It is served with Italian Sausage, tomato sauce, and cheese.

SERVINGS: 8 servings

PREP TIME: 20 mins

COOK TIME: 1 hr

TOTAL TIME: 1 hr 20 mins

Ingredients

▢1 lb of ziti pasta
▢1.25 lbs of Sweet Italian Sausage
▢2 tablespoons of olive oil
▢1 onion diced
▢3 cloves of garlic minced
▢25 oz of marinara sauce I used Rao’s
▢14.5 oz of petite diced tomatoes
▢Cup of water (1)
▢1 teaspoon of dried basil
▢1 teaspoon of dried oregano
▢2 bay leaves
▢salt and pepper to taste
▢8 oz of fresh mozzarella drained and cut into cubes
▢1/4 cup of parmesan cheese
▢1 cup of part skim mozzarella shredded

Instructions

Bring a big pot of salty water to cook. Cooking ziti according to packet directions. Sap and put aside.
In other pot or profound skillet with tall sides. Heating the pan about medium heat. Brown sausage, splitting apart as it boils. Sapping if you like. Return back in the pan. To the boiled sausage, add olive oil, onion, and garlic and saute until it becomes delicate for 3 minutes.
Churn in chopped tomatoes, marinara sauce, water, basil, oregano, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Cover and steam for 30 minutes. Tasting sauce and adjusting seasonings. Clear bay leaves.
Adding boiled ziti to the sauce and mix to coat. Add in new mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Stir to melt a little. Pour in lightly oiled 9×13 pan. Spread 1 cup sliced mozzarella cheese. Covering it with lightly oiled foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Complete it with diced parsley (optional) and serve hot.

Nutritional Information

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Italian