Sausage in Ziti
One of the things that I love about this recipe is the Italian seasoned pork sausage. It brings such a delicious flavor to this recipe that you I know you will love. This Baked Ziti recipe checks all of those boxes. This is a comforting and delicious dinner recipe that your family will love! Or making it for a loved one who needs a little extra care and attention. This one is a winner. Since one of the primary flavors of this easy baked ziti recipe is spaghetti sauce, make sure that you use one that you truly love. It’s just like using wine in cooking: the flavor intensifies, so you have to absolutely love it. My Homemade Spaghetti Sauce has the best flavor and comes together quickly. I love it in this recipe! Making seasoning blends from scratch has many benefits. Not only can you get the flavor exactly how you want it, but you control exactly what goes into the blend, eliminating extra sweeteners and preservatives that may be in store-bought seasonings. You can make a little bit for a recipe as needed, or a big batch to keep on hand in your pantry.
Cook the ziti. Bring your pot of water to a roaring boil and add your ziti. Set the time for two minutes less than the instructions on the package say. Cook the sausage. While your pasta is cooking, cook your sausage in a large skillet, breaking it up. Add in the onion, garlic, and seasonings and cook until the onion is translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Combine the meat, noodles, and sauces. Drain your pasta, then add the cooked meat with the spices and pan drippings, spaghetti sauce, and tomato sauce to the pot of cooked pasta. Put it all together. Pour half of the pasta and meat mixture into the bottom of your prepared pan. Add the ricotta cheese on top, in small scoops over the pasta. Don’t worry about making it completely smooth. Then add some of the mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Add the remaining pasta mixture. Bake the casserole. Top with the remaining cheese and bake until bubbly.
Use plenty of water. Pasta expands while it cooks, so it is important to make sure you have plenty of water in your pot. One pound of pasta will need four to six quarts of water. Bring your water to a roaring boil. Make sure you see large, constant bubbles before you add your pasta. Salt your water. You don’t need to measure, but add about a teaspoon of kosher salt to your water before adding your noodles (1/2 teaspoon if you are using table salt). Set a timer. You want to cook the ziti for two minutes less than what the package recommends. It will cook more when baking, so this helps to make sure the pasta doesn’t get overdone and mushy.
That said, I’m a whatever-floats-your-boat person. If cottage cheese as a substitution for ricotta in this baked ziti with sausage sounds good to you, go for it. If your family doesn’t eat pork, you can use Italian turkey sausage in place of pork sausage. While you could use ground beef or ground turkey, it won’t have the flavor that Italian sausage provides. My family often uses ground turkey sausage in place of pork sausage and loves the flavor it adds while also being a slightly healthier option.
Making Ahead
This is a great recipe because you can make it and pop it right in the oven, or you can wrap it up and put it in the refrigerator for tomorrow night. To make it a day in advance, prepare the casserole following the recipe steps but rather than putting it in the oven, wrap it tightly with foil and place it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake it, you can take it from the fridge, remove the foil, and put it right into a preheated oven. After you put that final layer of cheese on it (before you put it in the oven), wrap it very well with foil. Wrapping with two layers will keep it safe from freezer burn. Store in the freezer for up to three months. Note, you will have to add additional baking time when baking it from frozen. See more on this below. Or, if you have it in a disposable or aluminum baking dish, you can bake frozen baked ziti at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, covered for 2 hours and uncovered for 30 minutes or until the middle of the dish is melty and warm. That said, make sure you read your labels carefully on the other ingredients.
Chopped Salad: This is a great recipe to make any night of the week. My kiddos love it, and it is the perfect way to get more vegetables into their day. Garlic Bread: We love this recipe. It is so simple to make and perfect on the side of so many pasta recipes. Zucchini Soup: If we don’t count salt, pepper, and oil, this is a five ingredient recipe! Easy and so delicious!
To reheat your leftovers, put them in a shallow oven-safe dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil, and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Alternatively, place in a microwave-safe container, make a hole in the middle of your serving of baked ziti, and cover. Microwave at half power for about two minutes, then stir, re-cover, and add additional time as needed. Once you reheat leftovers, toss any remaining reheated food that you do not eat. Do not put it back in the refrigerator and warm it up again. ALways use discretion with leftovers.
Marsala Chicken Noodle Casserole: This has all the great flavors of Chicken Marsala but in a baked noodle casserole, and it is 100% amazing. Chicken Noodle Casserole: When you just need a classic recipe, this one should be your go-to. Taco Stuffed Shells: These are a taco spin on stuffed shells and make such a great weeknight dinner!
