Need a dinner to feed the whole family, plus have plenty of leftovers? This easy baked ziti recipe is a classic Italian casserole dish to feed a crowd.
ingredient
- 4 quarts water
- 5 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed, mild or spicy
- ½ cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, Cento Brand or San Marzano tomatoes
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, do not drain
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 2 cups whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, freshly grated
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
- 1 large egg
Directions
- Preheat the Oven – Set the oven rack to the middle position and the temperature to 375°F (190ºC).
- Cook the Pasta – In a large dutch oven or pot, bring water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and stir to dissolve. Add in the ziti. Cook it according to package directions until al dente, about 9 to 10 minutes.Drain in a colander, and rinse with cool water for about 30 seconds to immediately stop the cooking process. Separate them with a spoon so they do not stick together. Leave some moisture on the surface and set it aside.
- Brown the Sausage – Heat olive oil in the dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the sausage. Break into smaller pieces, and cook until browned, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Cook the Aromatics – Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the onion, garlic, and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Sauté until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add the Tomatoes – Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Stir and simmer for 10 minutes. Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Reserve 2 cups of the meat sauce.
- Sauce the Pasta – Add the ziti to the meat sauce and stir to combine. Set aside.
- Make the Cheese Mixture – In a medium-sized bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, parsley, and egg.
- Layer the Casserole – In a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish add half of the pasta. Evenly dollop with half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Spread half of the reserved meat sauce on top. Add the remaining pasta on top, followed by the ricotta cheese mixture and the remaining meat sauce.Evenly sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup of parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake – Loosely cover the baking dish with greased foil so that it does not touch the pasta. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the cheese is melted and lightly golden brown, about 15 minutes.
- Serve – If desired, garnish with chopped parsley and parmesan cheese.
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