Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 580kcal
Cost: 25$
Equipment
- 🍳 Large skillet
- 🥘 Large pot for pasta
- 🥘 9x13 baking dish
- 🔪 Sharp knife
- 🥄 Measuring cups/spoons
- 🥣 Mixing bowls
Ingredients
- For the Pasta:
- 1 pound 🍝 ziti pasta
- 1 pound 🥩 Italian sausage
- 1 🧅 large onion diced
- 4 cloves 🧄 garlic minced
- 2 🥫 jars marinara sauce 24 oz
- 2 tsp 🌿 Italian seasoning
- 🧂 Salt and pepper to taste
- For the Cheese Mixture:
- 15 oz 🧀 ricotta cheese
- 1 🥚 large egg
- 2 cups 🧀 mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 cup 🧀 parmesan cheese grated
- ¼ cup 🌿 fresh basil chopped
- 2 tbsp 🌿 fresh parsley chopped
- For Topping:
- 1 cup 🧀 mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup 🧀 parmesan cheese
- 🌿 Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
- Cook ziti pasta al dente
- Brown sausage with onions and garlic
- Mix cheese mixture ingredients
- Layer: sauce, pasta, cheese mix, repeat
- Top with remaining cheese
- Bake covered 25 mins
- Uncover, bake 15-20 mins until golden
Notes
Recipe Notes:
🌟 Cook pasta al dente - it will continue cooking
🌟 Let rest 10-15 minutes before serving
🌟 Use whole milk cheese for best melting
🌟 Don't skip the egg in ricotta mixture Storage Tips:
❄️ Refrigerate: 4-5 days
✅ Freeze: Up to 3 months
🔥 Reheat: Cover with foil, bake at 350°F Pro Tips:
🔑 Reserve pasta water for sauce
🔑 Use quality marinara sauce
🔑 Drain sausage of excess fat
🔑 Let cheese come to room temperature Variations:
🥩 Use ground beef instead of sausage
🥬 Add spinach or other vegetables
🌶️ Spicy version with red pepper flakes
🧀 Try different cheese combinations Common Questions:
❓ Too dry? Add reserved pasta water
❓ Make ahead? Assemble, refrigerate, bake later
❓ No ricotta? Substitute cottage cheese
❓ Freezing? Freeze before baking Perfect For:
👨👩👧👦 Family dinners
🎉 Potlucks
🍽️ Meal prep
👥 Feeding a crowd Serving Suggestions:
🥗 Garden salad
🥖 Garlic bread
🍷 Italian red wine
🌿 Extra fresh herbs
🌟 Cook pasta al dente - it will continue cooking
🌟 Let rest 10-15 minutes before serving
🌟 Use whole milk cheese for best melting
🌟 Don't skip the egg in ricotta mixture Storage Tips:
❄️ Refrigerate: 4-5 days
✅ Freeze: Up to 3 months
🔥 Reheat: Cover with foil, bake at 350°F Pro Tips:
🔑 Reserve pasta water for sauce
🔑 Use quality marinara sauce
🔑 Drain sausage of excess fat
🔑 Let cheese come to room temperature Variations:
🥩 Use ground beef instead of sausage
🥬 Add spinach or other vegetables
🌶️ Spicy version with red pepper flakes
🧀 Try different cheese combinations Common Questions:
❓ Too dry? Add reserved pasta water
❓ Make ahead? Assemble, refrigerate, bake later
❓ No ricotta? Substitute cottage cheese
❓ Freezing? Freeze before baking Perfect For:
👨👩👧👦 Family dinners
🎉 Potlucks
🍽️ Meal prep
👥 Feeding a crowd Serving Suggestions:
🥗 Garden salad
🥖 Garlic bread
🍷 Italian red wine
🌿 Extra fresh herbs
Nutrition
Calories: 580kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 1280mg | Fiber: 3g
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