Baked Ziti is a type of straightforward casseroles that tastes such as you’ve been cooking all day lengthy but it surely’s surprisingly fast!
Layers of tender ziti noodles, with a meaty zesty Italian sausage sauce and a cream creamy ricotta cheese layer.
High all of it with a beneficiant serving to of mozzarella cheese and bake till bubbly. An incredible meal in about an hour!
Why We Love Baked Ziti
Wealthy, zesty, tacky and better of all, it’s straightforward!
- Baked ziti with ricotta is an straightforward twist on a basic lasagna recipe.
- As an alternative of lengthy lasagna noodles, we use ziti pasta and bake it with meat sauce and many cheese.
- It rivals any restaurant pasta for much less price and it has heaps of taste!
- Including Italian sausage to this ziti recipe (or any pasta sauce) makes a fast sauce style prefer it’s been cooking for hours!
- This ziti dish is ideal to make forward and it reheats and freezes nicely. Cook dinner as soon as and luxuriate in for days!
Components
SAUCE: The sauce is made with Italian sausage which provides numerous taste. You’ll be able to swap it for floor beef (or floor turkey) however you’ll want to add further seasonings or spices (and a few chili flakes for warmth) and a tablespoon of olive oil for taste. To make this dish vegetarian, use finely minced greens like mushrooms, eggplant, and/or zucchini.
I just like the addition of pasta sauce because it’s already seasoned however be at liberty to make use of tomato sauce and add a little bit of Italian seasoning if it’s what you’ve available
PASTA – Ziti is our pasta of selection however any medium pasta will work. Swap out with penne or flip it into rigatoni pasta.
CHEESE – Ricotta cheese makes up the creamy cheese layer. You’ll be able to swap it out by mixing cottage cheese with an egg till clean. I stir in some cheese, spinach or extra herbs may be added.
TOPPING – Extra cheese. Mozzarella is the proper topper and I all the time garnish with a pinch of freshly grated parmesan cheese and a few recent herbs like parsley or basil.
Variations
Swap up this baked ziti recipe to your liking with the next:
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- Swap the sausage with turkey sausage or one other floor meat of your selection. Add further seasonings, salt, and a clove of garlic if not utilizing sausage.
- Add extra ‘warmth’ by including a touch of crimson pepper flakes…just a bit spicy.
- Add 1/2 cup heavy cream to the simmering tomato sauce if desired.
- Further recent herbs may be added to the cheese combination or on prime earlier than serving.
Tips on how to Make Baked Ziti
- Brown the sausage and onion over medium-high warmth (per the recipe under). Add sauce substances and simmer.
- Cook dinner the pasta in a big pot of salted water.
- Mix the cheese combination in a small bowl.
- In a greased baking dish, layer sauce, ziti, and the ricotta combination.
- High with the remaining shredded mozzarella and bake till the cheese is melted and bubbly.
How Lengthy to Cook dinner Baked Ziti
This straightforward Baked Ziti recipe is principally cooked so the baking is to mix the flavors, warmth every thing via and naturally, soften the cheese. Cook dinner it uncovered till the highest appears bubbly and browned!
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- 350°F for 30-35 minutes
- 375°F for 25-Half-hour
- 400°F for 20-25 minutes
Suggestions for a Nice Baked Ziti
- Use a big sauté pan so the sauce can simmer with out overflowing.
- Cook dinner the pasta al dente (somewhat undercooked) as it would proceed to prepare dinner because it bakes.
- This dish may be baked in any massive casserole dish.
- High with recent basil or parsley for serving.
- To make Baked Ziti forward of time, put together as directed and refrigerate for as much as 24 hours. Chances are you’ll want so as to add an additional 5-10 minutes baking time in case your recipe is chilly from the fridge.
- If desired, this may be divided into two 9-inch baking dishes and half may be frozen. Thaw in a single day within the fridge and bake till scorching and bubbly.
To Reheat Baked Ziti use both the microwave or pop it again within the oven on low, gradual warmth. Reheating baked ziti doesn’t change the feel or the flavour, however including an additional layer of shredded mozzarella to the highest freshens it up only a bit!
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Straightforward Baked Ziti
Baked Ziti has layers of zesty meat sauce, ricotta cheese and tender ziti noodles baked till golden.
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Preheat oven to 375°F
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Brown floor sausage and onion breaking apart till the sausage is pretty wonderful. Drain any fats.
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Add in Italian seasoning, water, tomatoes and pasta sauce. Simmer 10-Quarter-hour or till thickened.
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In the meantime, boil ziti in salted water till al dente. Drain and rinse.
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In a small bowl, combine ricotta, egg, parsley, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese.
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Add a skinny layer (about 1 cup) of sauce to the underside of a greased 9×13 pan. Layer half of the ziti, prime with the entire ricotta combination, and half of the sauce.
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Add remaining ziti, remaining sauce, and prime with remaining mozzarella cheese.
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Bake 25-Half-hour or till golden and bubbly.
- Use a big saute pan so the sauce can simmer with out overflowing.
- Cook dinner the pasta al dente (somewhat undercooked) as it would proceed to prepare dinner because it bakes.
- If utilizing floor meat apart from sausage, add extra seasonings, salt & a tablespoon of olive oil to the sauce.
- High with recent basil or parsley for serving.
- To make Baked Ziti forward of time, put together as directed and refrigerate for as much as 24 hours. Chances are you’ll want so as to add an additional 5-10 minutes baking time in case your recipe is chilly from the fridge.
- If desired, this may be divided into two 9-inch baking dishes and half may be frozen. Thaw in a single day within the fridge and bake till scorching and bubbly.
Energy: 598 | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 34g | Fats: 27g | Saturated Fats: 11g | Ldl cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 1257mg | Potassium: 816mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1005IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 485mg | Iron: 3.6mg
Diet info offered is an estimate and can differ based mostly on cooking strategies and types of substances used.
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To Freeze Baked Ziti
Like most casseroles, baked ziti may be frozen efficiently. If you’re freezing the complete casserole in a single piece, you’ll want to line the dish with aluminum foil earlier than assembling and baking, then, as soon as it’s chilled, freeze within the pan after which take away the casserole and wrap it in aluminum foil and plastic wrap, label, and place within the fridge.
Or, portion into smaller items and put in freezer luggage, label, and freeze! Straightforward peasy lunch for varsity or work!