Looking for a delicious and hearty pasta meal to share with your family or community this summer? This baked ziti recipe is a perfect choice! This classic Italian-American dish combines pasta, cheese, and a rich tomato sauce to create a comforting and satisfying meal that everyone will love.
Cooking Equipment
- Large pot
- Large saute pan
- Slotted spoon
- Cutting board
- Knife
- 9 x 13-inch baking dish
- Measuring spoons and cups
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti noodles
- 1½ lbs ground spicy or sweet Italian sausage
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons sugar
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup grated pecorino Romano (or Parmigiano Reggiano) cheese
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh basil
- 8 oz whole milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Spray nonstick cooking spray or spread butter to a 9 x 13- inch baking dish. Set aside.
- Chop basil and garlic. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the 1 lb of ziti noodles and cook according to the package directions. (It will continue to cook in the oven so you want to undercook it just a bit.) Drain and return the pasta back to the pot. Set aside.
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Crumble the sausage into the pan and cook, breaking apart with a spoon, 5 to 6 minutes.
- Drain the grease from the sausage and transfer to a plate.
- Add 4 cloves of minced garlic to the sauté pan and cook for about 1 minute. Then, add the 28-oz can of crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, 1½ teaspoons sugar and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes and lightly simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
- Add in the 1 cup cream, ⅓ cup of the pecorino Romano, cooked sausage, and ⅓ cup basil to the pan; stir until evenly combined.
- Carefully pour the contents of the sauté pan into the large pot with the pasta and gently stir to combine.
- Spoon the mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Top with shredded mozzarella (1 cup).
- Transfer to the oven and bake, uncovered, until the cheese has melted and slightly browned, about 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle more basil on top and serve.