Bob's Mom's Baked Ziti

Transport your taste buds to comfort-food heaven with Bob's Mom's Baked Ziti, a hearty and timeless casserole dish packed with classic Italian flavors. This crowd-pleasing recipe combines tender ziti pasta layered with savory marinara-soaked Italian sausage, creamy ricotta cheese, and gooey, golden mozzarella. Perfect for weeknight dinners or family gatherings, this baked ziti is both easy to prepare and satisfyingly rich. A touch of fresh basil adds a vibrant finishing touch, while the bubbling cheese topping makes every bite irresistible. Ready in just over an hour and serving up to eight, this dish is a guaranteed hit for feeding a hungry crowd. Perfect keywords: baked ziti recipe, Italian comfort food, easy pasta casserole, cheesy baked ziti.

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:65 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 pound ziti pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound ground Italian sausage
• 4 cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (optional)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2

Cook the ziti pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions, but slightly undercook by about 1 minute. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Step 4

Add the ground Italian sausage to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.

Step 5

Stir the marinara sauce into the sausage mixture and let it simmer on low heat for 5 minutes.

Step 6

In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, beaten egg, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well incorporated.

Step 7

In a large 9x13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of the sausage marinara sauce on the bottom.

Step 8

Layer half of the cooked ziti pasta over the sauce, followed by half of the ricotta mixture, half of the remaining marinara sauce, and half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese.

Step 9

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Step 10

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbly.

Step 11

Let the baked ziti cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped basil if desired. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2864.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5413.5

Total Fat 295.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 126.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 1049.2mg	0%
Sodium 10400.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 431.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 34.4g	0%
Total Sugars 40.8g
Protein 285.3g	0%

Vitamin D 40IU	0%
Calcium 4908.7mg	0%
Iron 26.2mg	0%
Potassium 2073.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 48.1%

Protein: 20.6%

Carbs: 31.2%