Baked Ziti with Sausage

Baked ziti with sausage cooked until bubbly with spaghetti sauce, cheese, and sausage. This is a pasta recipe with delicious, comforting flavor.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 649 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried basil (Optional)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 (16 ounce) package dry ziti pasta
• 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• cooking spray
• 1 pound mild Italian sausage
• 1 large yellow onion, minced
• 1 ½ (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce, divided
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Italian cheese blend

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 2

Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, about 20 minutes. Uncover; return to the oven and bake until cheese is melted, 5 to 10 more minutes.

Step 3

Stir together ricotta, onion, egg, garlic, and oregano in a large bowl until well combined. Stir in pasta, sausage, salt, pepper, and the half jar of spaghetti sauce; mix well.

Step 4

Cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish with 1/3 of the full jar spaghetti sauce. Layer with 1/2 of the pasta mixture, 1/2 of the remaining spaghetti sauce, and 1/2 of the shredded cheese. Repeat layers once more using remaining pasta, sauce, and cheese. Sprinkle basil over top and cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.

Step 5

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Stir in ziti and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well.

Step 6

While pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage; cook and stir until brown, about 10 minutes. Drain sausage and set aside.