Baked Ziti Recipe | Recipe Iseasy Kitchen

Baked ziti is a tasty, popular dish that's incredibly simple to prepare. Filled with flavorful sauce, gooey cheese, and robust ziti noodles, it's the ideal comforting option for hectic evenings or memorable family dinners.

Level: Easy
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Total: 50 min
Active: 20 min

Nutritional Analysis Per Serving (1 of 8 servings):
Calories 686
Total Fat 38 g
Saturated Fat 16 g
Carbohydrates 51 g
Dietary Fiber 4 g
Sugar 5 g
Protein 34 g
Cholesterol 93 mg
Sodium 878 mg

This timeless Italian-American classic blends ziti pasta, rich tomato sauce, and luscious melted cheese, baked until golden and irresistible. Developed by our test kitchen, this straightforward recipe delivers perfectly balanced flavors in under an hourready to become your new family favorite.

Ingredients

Olive oil, for greasing
1 pound ziti
Kosher salt
3 1/2 cups Quick Tomato Sauce, recipe follows
1 pound fresh mozzarella, half cut into 1/2-inch cubes and half thinly sliced
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch crushed red pepper

Quick Tomato Sauce

Yield: about 5 cups

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound sweet and/or spicy Italian sausages, casing removed and sausage crumbled
1/4 medium onion, diced (about 3 tablespoons)
3 cloves garlic, chopped
One 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes in puree, roughly chopped
Sprig thyme
Sprig basil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously and boil the pasta until al dente (tender but still slightly firm). Drain.
Toss the cooked pasta with the quick tomato sauce, cubed mozzarella, half the Parmesan, all of the black pepper and crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Transfer the pasta to the prepared baking dish. Cover the top of the pasta with the sliced mozzarella and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

Quick Tomato Sauce Directions

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt and season with pepper. Use now or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

Tips for Perfect Baked Ziti

Make your own sauce: Whip up a from-scratch tomato sauce with Italian sausage, onions, garlic, and herbs to elevate canned tomatoes in minutes.
Be generous with sauce: Add extra if the mixture looks drypasta absorbs liquid during baking to prevent dryness.
Use fresh mozzarella: It melts smoothly for a creamy, stretchy texture and fresh milky taste that pairs perfectly with tangy sauce.
Cook pasta al dente to avoid mushiness after baking, and grease the dish well to prevent sticking.

Ziti vs. Rigatoni

Ziti is slimmer, longer, and smooth, allowing sauce to fill its tubes while holding shape in the oven. Rigatoni has ridges for trapping sauce and works as a great substitute.

Is Ricotta Essential?

Traditional but optionalthis recipe skips it for a richer, stretchier cheese pull from mozzarella and Parmesan.

Boost Protein & Make It Filling

Mix in ground beef, diced chicken, mushrooms, or zucchini alongside sausage for a hearty, all-in-one meal.

Make-Ahead & Storage

Assemble ahead, cover, and bake from the fridge. Or bake, cool, refrigerate, and reheat at 350F with extra sauce. Leftovers keep 3-4 days airtight.

Pairing Ideas

Light: Caesar salad, simple greens, or wilted spinach.
Indulgent: Garlic bread.
More veggies: Arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette or roasted broccoli.

Transform weeknights or potlucks with this versatile crowd-pleaser. Swap sausages for spice, add hidden veggies, or go meatlessits quick homemade sauce and cheesy layers will have everyone begging for seconds!