Description
This Cheesy, Perfect Classic Baked Ziti recipe delivers a comforting, hearty Italian-American dish featuring a savory sausage tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, and melty mozzarella cheese baked to bubbly golden perfection. Ideal for family dinners or meal prepping, it combines al dente ziti pasta with a rich homemade meat sauce, layered with cheeses and fresh basil for a luscious, flavorful bake.
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 ½ pounds ground Italian sausage, hot or mild
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 5 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
- Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Pasta and Cheese
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
- 16 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese, grated and divided
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
- ¼ cup basil chiffonade, divided
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly spray or grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and set it aside for later use.
- Cook Sausage: In a large deep skillet or dutch oven, heat the olive oil and butter over medium-high heat until hot and sizzling. Add the ground Italian sausage and use a wooden utensil to break it up. Cook until browned and slightly crispy, about 5-7 minutes.
- Sauté Aromatics and Build Sauce: Add the finely chopped onion to the sausage and cook until tender and translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Then add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, approximately 1-2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and brown sugar, combining well. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, and season the sauce with kosher salt, black pepper, dried oregano, dried basil, and garlic powder. Stir thoroughly to combine all flavors.
- Simmer the Sauce: Reduce heat to low and let the meat sauce simmer gently for 15-20 minutes to deepen the flavors.
- Cook Pasta: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil on a separate burner. Cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ⅓ cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta back into the pot with the meat sauce along with the reserved pasta water. Stir everything together thoroughly to combine, then remove from heat.
- Assemble the Baked Ziti: Spoon half of the pasta mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Dollop the ricotta cheese in sections over the pasta. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan evenly over the ricotta. Top with half of the chopped basil chiffonade. Spread the remaining pasta over the layers, and finish with the remaining mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and basil chiffonade.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese on top is bubbly and golden brown on the edges.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the baked ziti to cool for 10 minutes in the baking dish. Garnish with the remaining basil chiffonade and serve immediately for best flavor and texture. Enjoy your homemade classic baked ziti!
Notes
- Fresh basil chiffonade adds brightness and a fresh herbal note to balance the richness of the cheese and meat sauce.
- Reserving pasta water helps to loosen the sauce and pasta mixture for a perfect consistency.
- Use either hot or mild Italian sausage depending on your preferred spice level.
- Letting the baked ziti rest before serving allows the flavors to meld and the dish to set for easier slicing.
- This recipe can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking; just add a few extra minutes to baking time if baking from cold.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
