Homemade Baked Ziti
Rich, cheesy, and irresistibly comforting, this Homemade Baked Ziti is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, perfect for weeknight dinners or family gatherings. Featuring tender ziti pasta layered with savory Italian sausage, a luscious marinara sauce, and a creamy ricotta cheese mixture, this dish is topped with gooey, golden mozzarella for a baked masterpiece. With just 20 minutes of prep time, this easy baked ziti recipe is packed with bold flavors from garlic, Italian seasoning, and fresh parsley. Ideal for serving a hungry group, it’s a hearty, classic Italian-inspired meal that will leave everyone reaching for seconds. Whether you’re craving a cozy casserole or planning a make-ahead dinner, this baked ziti is a guaranteed hit!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 piece large egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
Add the ground Italian sausage to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink. Drain any excess fat if needed.
Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet with the cooked sausage mixture. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, the egg, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley. Mix until well combined.
Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray. Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce mixture evenly over the bottom of the dish.
Layer half of the cooked ziti over the sauce. Spoon half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta, spreading it gently. Top with half of the remaining marinara sauce and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Repeat the layering process with the remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, marinara sauce, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Bake uncovered for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Let the baked ziti cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra parsley if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
615 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 39.7 g | 51% | |
| Saturated Fat | 18.2 g | 91% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 130 mg | 43% | |
| Sodium | 1319 mg | 57% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 28.2 g | 10% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.6 g | 9% | |
| Total Sugars | 4.5 g | ||
| Protein | 34.5 g | 69% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 562 mg | 43% | |
| Iron | 1.9 mg | 10% | |
| Potassium | 272 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.
