Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb. ground Italian sausage (sweet, mild, or hot)
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 oz. tomato paste
- 1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning blend
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 lb. ziti pasta
- 1/2 Tbsp salt (for pasta water)
- 15 oz. ricotta cheese
- 1 cup Italian cheese blend
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 handful chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown the ground Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté the finely chopped onion until soft.
- Stir in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and water.
- Boil salted water and cook the ziti until tender, then drain.
- Mix ricotta cheese, Italian cheese blend, and black pepper in a bowl.
- Layer half of the cooked ziti in a baking dish, followed by half of the ricotta mixture and half of the sausage-tomato sauce. Repeat layers.
- Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Cover and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, then broil for 5 minutes until golden brown.
Notes
Don’t overcook the ziti; it will continue to cook in the oven.
Experiment with different sausage types for unique flavors.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 23
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 36
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
- Cholesterol: 70