Italian Restaurant Baked Ziti
Bring the flavors of your favorite Italian eatery straight to your kitchen with this indulgent Italian Restaurant Baked Ziti! This comforting casserole is a crowd-pleasing classic, featuring tender ziti pasta layered with a robust marinara and Italian sausage sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella. Savory Parmesan cheese and aromatic seasonings like garlic, Italian herbs, and optional red pepper flakes take the flavor to the next level, perfectly balancing rich cheesiness with a delicate spice. Baked to golden, bubbly perfection and garnished with fresh basil, this hearty dish is ideal for family dinners, potlucks, or meal prep. Easy to prepare in just under an hour, it’s a guaranteed hit for any occasion.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes (canned)
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet or saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
Add the ground Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and fully cooked, about 6-7 minutes. Drain excess grease if necessary.
Stir in the marinara sauce and diced tomatoes. Add the Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Simmer the sauce on low heat for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to combine.
In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese and grated Parmesan cheese until blended.
Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Layer half of the cooked ziti pasta on top of the sauce.
Dollop half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta and spread gently. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the ricotta layer.
Repeat the layers: Add another cup of meat sauce, the remaining ziti, the other half of the ricotta mixture, and 1 more cup of mozzarella cheese.
Spread the remaining meat sauce over the top layer and finish with a sprinkling of additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden on top.
Remove the baked ziti from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, if desired, before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
743 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 47.6 g | 61% | |
| Saturated Fat | 21.2 g | 106% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 129 mg | 43% | |
| Sodium | 1685 mg | 73% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 38.0 g | 14% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.4 g | 12% | |
| Total Sugars | 6.7 g | ||
| Protein | 40.9 g | 82% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 614 mg | 47% | |
| Iron | 2.4 mg | 13% | |
| Potassium | 462 mg | 10% | |
*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.
