Surprising Baked Ziti
Discover the ultimate comfort food with this Surprising Baked Ziti, a family-favorite dish packed with hearty flavors and a hidden twist! This recipe elevates a classic ziti bake by layering tender pasta with a creamy ricotta-spinach mixture, zesty Italian sausage, and rich marinara sauce, then topping it all with a golden, bubbly blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Perfectly seasoned with garlic, onion, and Italian herbs, every bite delivers a satisfying medley of textures and flavors. Ready in under an hour and serving up to 8, it’s an ideal dish for weeknight dinners or gatherings. Be sure to add this crowd-pleasing baked ziti to your repertoire for its irresistible layers and easy prep!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 16 oz ziti pasta
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1.5 cups ricotta cheese
- 10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute.
Add the ground Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook until browned and crumbled, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
Stir the marinara sauce into the skillet with the sausage mixture and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, thawed and squeezed spinach, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until well blended.
In a large 9x13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of the sausage marinara sauce (about 1 cup) on the bottom.
Add half of the cooked ziti pasta in an even layer over the sauce.
Spread all of the ricotta-spinach mixture over the ziti, followed by 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Layer the remaining ziti pasta on top, followed by the rest of the sausage marinara sauce.
Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese (1.5 cups) and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1536 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 106.1 g | 136% | |
| Saturated Fat | 61.9 g | 310% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 623 mg | 208% | |
| Sodium | 2387 mg | 104% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 34.1 g | 12% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.6 g | 2% | |
| Total Sugars | 1.0 g | ||
| Protein | 118.4 g | 237% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.2 mcg | 6% | |
| Calcium | 3577 mg | 275% | |
| Iron | 2.8 mg | 16% | |
| Potassium | 450 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.
