Mike's Baked Ziti

Get ready to savor comfort food at its finest with Mike's Baked Ziti, a hearty and flavorful dish perfect for family dinners or potluck gatherings. This Italian-American classic layers tender ziti pasta, a rich marinara sauce infused with savory ground Italian sausage, and a creamy ricotta cheese blend seasoned with garlic and fresh basil. Finished with a gooey, golden topping of mozzarella and parmesan, this baked ziti recipe strikes the perfect balance between cheesy indulgence and robust, savory flavors. It's quick to assemble, with just 15 minutes of prep time, and bakes to bubbly perfection in under an hour. Ideal for feeding a crowd or meal prepping leftovers, this irresistible baked pasta will have everyone coming back for seconds!

Nutriscore Rating: 63/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:50 mins

Total Time:65 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 16 oz ziti pasta
• 32 oz marinara sauce
• 1 lb ground Italian sausage
• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 large egg
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil or non-stick spray.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions, until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step 4

Add the ground Italian sausage to the skillet. Break it apart with a spoon and cook until fully browned, about 7-8 minutes. Drain any excess grease.

Step 5

Stir the marinara sauce into the cooked sausage and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Step 6

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese, the egg, chopped basil, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until smooth.

Step 7

In the prepared baking dish, spread a thin layer of the marinara-sausage mixture to coat the bottom.

Step 8

Layer half of the cooked ziti pasta over the sauce, followed by half of the ricotta mixture, and then half of the remaining marinara-sausage mixture. Repeat the layering process with the remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, and sauce.

Step 9

Top the dish with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.

Step 10

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

Step 11

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

Step 12

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

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2648.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5242.2

Total Fat 290.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 122.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.6g
Cholesterol 1058.2mg	0%
Sodium 10176.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 415.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 32.1g	0%
Total Sugars 39.6g
Protein 268.3g	0%

Vitamin D 53.8IU	0%
Calcium 4591.9mg	0%
Iron 27.3mg	0%
Potassium 2021.8mg	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: 48.8%

Protein: 20.1%

Carbs: 31.1%