Easy Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage and Mushrooms
Baked ziti is a classic Italian-American dish popular for its delicious combination of pasta, tomato sauce, and cheese. This hearty and flavorful meal can be made with various ingredients like ground beef, sausage, or vegetables, making it a versatile and customizable option for any occasion. Whether you're looking to impress guests at a dinner party or make a cozy meal, baked ziti is a perfect choice.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti noodles
- 796 g ( 7 sausage links) Spicy or sweet pork sausage, casing removed, broken into bite-size chunks
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 red pepper or poblano pepper , chopped
- 1 yellow onion , chopped
- 1 (28-oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1-½ teaspoons granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Indian red chili powder or crushed red pepper flakes , to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper , to taste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- ½ cilantro , chopped plus more for garnishing
- 8 oz ( about 2 cups) whole milk mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Cooking spray or butter , for baking dish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta in the salted boiling water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain and add the pasta back to the pot. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 425 °F and set the oven rack in the middle position. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble the sausage into the pan and cook, breaking apart with a wooden spoon, until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the onion, pepper, and garlic and saute until starting to soften, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the mushroom and toss well and saute for about 5 minutes, then turn down to medium heat as the mushrooms begin to develop some color and the water from them evaporates. Add the crushed tomato, sugar, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Stir and bring to a simmer, uncovered for 15 minutes. Add the heavy cream, ⅓ cup of the shredded Parmesan, and cilantro to the pan; stir until evenly combined. Taste and adjust salt as necessary.
- Carefully pour the mixture of the nonstick skillet into the large pot with the pasta and gently stir to combine. Spoon half of the mixture into the prepared 13 x 18-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the shredded mozzarella and half of the remaining shredded Parmesan. Spoon the remaining pasta mixture on top and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and shredded Parmesan. Transfer the Baked Ziti to the oven and bake, uncovered, until the completely heated through and cheese has melted and browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with more cilantro and serve.
Notes
How to Store & Re-Heat
To store: Let it cool down to room temperature and transfer it to an airtight container. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Label it with the date and contents in a freezer-safe container if you're freezing it. To reheat baked ziti from the fridge, you can microwave it in a microwave-safe dish or the oven. To reheat in the oven, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C), cover the baking dish with foil, and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
To reheat: Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C), cover the baking dish with foil, and bake for about 30-35 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat it in the microwave, but it may not be as crispy as when baked in the oven. To reheat individual portions in the microwave, place them in a microwave-safe dish, cover them with a damp paper towel, and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Make sure to stir it halfway through to ensure even heating.
Make-Ahead
How to Freeze
To make ahead, prepare the recipe as directed, but stop before baking it in the oven. Instead, let it cool to room temperature, cover it with foil or plastic wrap, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you're ready to bake, preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C), uncover the baking dish, and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly. You can also freeze the unbaked dish for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight to bake from frozen, then bake as directed.
To freeze baked ziti, prepare the recipe as directed and let it cool to room temperature. Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, or use a freezer-safe container with a tight-fitting lid. Label the container with the date and contents and freeze it for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat, let the baked ziti thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bake as directed in the recipe. Alternatively, you can bake it directly from frozen, but you'll need to add about 15-20 minutes to the cooking time and cover the dish with foil for the first half to prevent it from drying out.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage and Mushrooms
Amount per Serving
Calories
490
% Daily Value*
Fat
31
g
48
%
Saturated Fat
14
g
88
%
Trans Fat
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
11
g
Cholesterol
88
mg
29
%
Sodium
810
mg
35
%
Potassium
323
mg
9
%
Carbohydrates
31
g
10
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
3
g
3
%
Protein
21
g
42
%
Vitamin A
557
IU
11
%
Vitamin C
10
mg
12
%
Calcium
177
mg
18
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
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