Description
Alton Brown’s baked ziti brings Southern comfort to Italian pasta perfection. Layers of hearty pasta, rich marinara, and melted cheeses create a soul-warming dish that invites you to savor each comforting, cheesy bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) Italian sausage
- 1 egg
Cheese:
- 15 ounces (425 grams) ricotta cheese
- 2 cups (226 grams) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup (28 grams) Parmesan cheese, shredded
Vegetables and Other Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 28 ounces (794 grams) pasta sauce or marinara sauce
- 14 ounces (397 grams) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 16 ounces (454 grams) ziti
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ cup (118 milliliters) water
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius), ensuring the rack is positioned in the center.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles. Add diced onions and sauté until the meat is fully cooked and onions are translucent.
- Drain excess fat from the meat and onion mixture to reduce greasiness.
- Pour pasta sauce, water, diced tomatoes, and Italian seasoning into the skillet. Reduce heat and allow the mixture to simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens and develops rich flavors.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8 to 10 minutes.
- Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse briefly with cool water to stop the cooking process.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, beaten egg, chopped fresh parsley, shredded mozzarella, and grated parmesan cheese. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
- Grease a 9×13 inch (23×33 centimeter) baking dish and spread approximately 1 cup of the prepared sauce evenly across the bottom.
- Layer half of the cooked ziti pasta over the sauce, followed by spreading the ricotta cheese mixture.
- Pour another layer of sauce over the ricotta, then add the remaining ziti pasta.
- Top the casserole with the remaining sauce and sprinkle additional mozzarella cheese for extra coverage.
- Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and develops a golden-brown color.
- Remove from the oven and let the ziti casserole rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set.
Notes
- Use a large saute pan to prevent the sauce from boiling over.
- Keep pasta slightly undercooked since it will continue cooking in the oven.
- Enhance ground meat sauce with extra seasonings and a splash of olive oil.
- Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or basil just before serving.
- Prepare baked ziti ahead by assembling and refrigerating for at least an hour, adding 5-10 minutes to baking time if cold.
- Divide the recipe between two 9-inch baking dishes, freezing one portion for later enjoyment after overnight thawing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 485 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg