Baked Ziti Aimees Adventures
Indulge in comfort food perfection with 'Baked Ziti Aimee's Adventures,' a hearty Italian-American classic that combines rich marinara sauce, creamy ricotta cheese, and savory Italian sausage for a flavor-packed casserole. This crowd-pleasing dish layers tender ziti pasta with a luscious ricotta and mozzarella mixture, then bakes to gooey, golden perfection. Seasoned with Italian herbs, garlic, and a touch of fresh parsley, every bite bursts with authentic, homestyle flavor. Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or meal prep, this baked ziti recipe is easy to assemble and ready in just an hour. Serve warm with a crisp side salad or garlic bread for the ultimate comfort food experience.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 16 oz ziti pasta
- 48 oz marinara sauce
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 16 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 0.5 cups Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a light coating of olive oil.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the ground Italian sausage until browned and fully cooked, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain excess grease and stir in the marinara sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes.
In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, egg, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and chopped parsley until smooth and well combined.
In the prepared baking dish, spread a thin layer of the marinara sauce mixture on the bottom. Add half of the cooked ziti pasta in an even layer.
Spoon dollops of the ricotta mixture over the ziti layer and gently spread it. Add half of the remaining marinara sauce mixture and sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella.
Repeat with the remaining ziti pasta, ricotta mixture, and marinara sauce mixture. Top with the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
Let the dish rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional chopped parsley if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
598 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 38.6 g | 50% | |
| Saturated Fat | 19.5 g | 98% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 125 mg | 42% | |
| Sodium | 1413 mg | 61% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 28.5 g | 10% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.4 g | 9% | |
| Total Sugars | 4.5 g | ||
| Protein | 36.6 g | 73% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 611 mg | 47% | |
| Iron | 2.0 mg | 11% | |
| Potassium | 277 mg | 6% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
