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This family-style casserole is definitely a crowd-pleaser. Extra cheesy and loaded with sausage, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
Why We Love This Recipe
As far as I’m concerned, pasta and cheese are the two most comforting foods for a cold winter day. And we must recognize those little pieces of crispy pasta on the top and sides! The BEST!
This recipe is a family favorite that also is great for a potluck, having friends over for dinner, or a hearty casserole for game-day. It’s budget-friendly and can be made 1-2 days in advance.
Ingredients
Let’s Make Cheesy Baked Ziti
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Boil ziti per the package direction until it’s al dente.
- While the ziti is boiling, brown the Italian sausage. Pour off any excess liquid.
- Mix ricotta, 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese, egg, and parmesan cheese, and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine cooked ziti and cooked sausage.
- Top with ricotta mixture and stir until completely incorporated. Careful not to break the ziti noodles.
- Add pasta sauce, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes and mix.
- Spray a casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Transfer ziti mixture to the casserole dish, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil, top with remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese and bake, uncovered, for 10 more minutes.
- Garnish with fresh basil.
- Serve with garlic bread and a side salad.
Krazy Kitchen Mom Tips
- The recipe can be made and assembled 1-2 days in advance. Store it in the refrigerator covered tightly with aluminum foil.
- Be sure to cook ziti to al dente because it will continue to cook while it’s baking.
- Freeze this casserole for 4-6 weeks. Covered tightly.
More KKM Family Favorite Recipes
- Crescent Roll Veggie Pizza
- Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta
- Maryland Style Crab Cakes
- Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
Cheesy Baked Ziti
This family-style casserole is definitely a crowd-pleaser. Extra cheesy and loaded with sausage, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
Ingredients
- 16 oz. box ziti
- 1 lbs loose Italian sausage
- 24 oz. jar prepared pasta sauce
- 8 oz. plus 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1-1/4 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Boil ziti per the package direction until it's al dente.
- While the ziti is boiling, brown the Italian sausage.
- Pour off any excess liquid.
- Mix ricotta, 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese, egg, and parmesan cheese, and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine cooked ziti and cooked sausage.
- Top with ricotta mixture and stir until completely incorporated. Careful not to break the ziti noodles.
- Add pasta sauce, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes and mix.
- Spray a casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Transfer ziti mixture to the casserole dish, cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil, top with remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese and bake, uncovered, for 10 more minutes.
- Garnish with fresh basil.
- Serve with garlic bread and a side salad.
Notes
Krazy Kitchen Mom Tips
- The recipe can be made and assembled 1-2 days in advance. Store it in the refrigerator covered tightly with aluminum foil.
- Be sure to cook ziti to al dente because it will continue to cook while it’s baking.
- Freeze this casserole for 4-6 weeks. Covered tightly.
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