Baked Ziti with Spicy Italian Sausage

A classic Italian American favorite, this ziti bake features tender pasta coated in a rich tomato sauce with spicy Italian sausage and a blend of cheeses, baked until golden and bubbly.

• Prep: 25 min
• Cook: 35 min
• Total: 1 hr
• Servings: 10
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Medium
• Cost: $3.04/serving

Dietary

• High-Protein

Tags

• bake
• comfort food
• savory
• crowd-pleaser
• rich

Ingredients

• 1 pound ziti pasta
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1.25 pound spicy Italian sausage (casings removed)
• 1 yellow onion (medium, chopped)
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
• 15 ounce tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoon fresh basil (chopped)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 15 ounce ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese (divided)
• 2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 10 ounce frozen chopped spinach (thawed and squeezed dry)
• 1 garlic bread

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. While pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add spicy Italian sausage and yellow onion, breaking up the sausage with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 8-10 minutes.
3. Stir in minced garlic, and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant. Drain any excess grease.
4. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, chopped fresh basil, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, large egg, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, and thawed and squeezed dry frozen chopped spinach. Mix well.
6. In a large baking dish (9x13 inch), spread about 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom. Layer half of the cooked ziti over the sauce, then spoon half of the ricotta mixture over the ziti. Top with half of the shredded mozzarella cheese and half of the remaining meat sauce.
7. Repeat layers with the remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, mozzarella, and meat sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese is melted and lightly browned. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with garlic bread.

Notes

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warmed through.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 610
• Protein: 37.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 54.2 g
• Fat: 28.1 g
• Fiber: 5.1 g
• Sodium: 1250 mg
• Saturated Fat: 12.5 g
• Sugar: 7.3 g
• Cholesterol: 120 mg