Community Pick
Quick and Easy Baked Ziti
"This is a quick dish I like to make when I need to get dinner on the table in a hurry. If you like a zestier ziti, use a hot Italian sausage. Note: cooking/prep time does not include time for cooking pasta."
photo by Jonathan Melendez
- Ready In:
- 55mins
- Ingredients:
- 8
- Serves:
-
6
ingredients
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (26 ounce) jar pasta sauce with mushrooms
- 1 (12 ounce) package ziti pasta or (12 ounce) package penne pasta, cooked and drained according to package directions
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1⁄2 cup fresh parmesan cheese, grated
directions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease a 9x13" baking dish; set aside.
- In a large saucepan, cook sausage, onions, green pepper, and garlic over medium heat until sausage is browned; drain fat.
- Add pasta sauce and cook until mixture is hot, stirring occasionally. Add pasta to the sauce mixture and mix well. Stir in 1 cup of the Mozzarella cheese, mixing until well combined.
- Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 1 cup Mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil.
- Bake at 350ºF for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
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Reviews
-
This is really the most perfect baked ziti. It was meaty, cheesy and delicious. I couldn't get enough of it. -
A quick, easy and very good pasta dinner. I used a red bell pepper since the hubby doesnt care for green, ziti pasta, and an italian blend shredded cheese instead of the mozzarella. Served with a side tossed salad and fresh italian baked bread. This one is going in my favorite's cookbook. Congrat's again on your win Sue! Made and reviewed for the Football Pool 2019 - Week 14. -
What a delicious and easy casserole! (or hot dish as we say in Minnesota and Wisconsin!) Used different pasta, had no mozzarella and used those little cheese wedges instead. I removed the casing of the sausages and crumbled it as it cooked. Added sliced mushrooms, too. So it wasn't as cheesy as your original, but it still captured the spirit of yours DH raved about how yummy it was! Made for your football win. -
This was great, Bayhill. I've made dishes similar to this one, all with varying degrees of success. But the combination of ingredients in your recipe puts this at the top of the list. It's so easy to prepare too, and my sons have already asked that I make it again. So I know this will be a regular in my home. Made for your awesome win in the 2013 Football Pool. -
I use this recipe often making it a bit different each time. I have use a drained can of black beans in place of the meat, used ground turkey and always add lots more vegetables - mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, frozen corn & peas - basically whatever I have in the fridge or freezer. By adding lots of veggies this truly can be a healthy 1 dish meal for both kids and adults!
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Tweaks
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Great recipe Bayhill! I have been making baked Ziti this way with excellent results. Followed your recipe with a few small changes. I used Spicy Turkey Italian Sausage as I don't eat Pork, Red Bell Pepper instead of Green Bell Pepper, I used Gluten free Penne as I didnt have any Gluten Free Ziti, added fresh chopped Basil and Cilantro to the sausage while frying and after I mixed cheeses into the pasta I spread a layer of mixed pasta, added cheeses in a layer then topped with the remaining pasta mix then topped with Mozzerella. I served it with grilled Asparagus and it was a huge hit for dinner! -
I use this recipe often making it a bit different each time. I have use a drained can of black beans in place of the meat, used ground turkey and always add lots more vegetables - mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, frozen corn & peas - basically whatever I have in the fridge or freezer. By adding lots of veggies this truly can be a healthy 1 dish meal for both kids and adults!
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Cheesy gooey baked ziti, what could be better?!? My family gobbled this entire dish up last night for dinner... my DS practically ran to the kitchen to scoop out the last serving; his only disappointment was there wasn't any left for his lunch today. I did use cut up fettuccine noodles instead of the penne pasta. Next time I would add some crushed red pepper to kick it up - but truly a wonderful dish that my DS will be begging for. Made for PAC Spring 2008.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Bayhill
Corning, California
<p>Hi! Thank you for visiting my About Me page. I live in northern California (about 2 hours north of Sacramento). My husband and I live on 10 acres where we grow alfalfa and have a small family orchard of fruit and nut trees. We also have 2 horses, 2 cats, a Dexter cow and calf, and 13 chickens.<br /><br />I am married to a wonderful guy (since 1979), and we have two terrific kids. Our daughter (born in 1981) has her college degree in microbiology. Our son (born in 1983) has his college degree in computer science.</p>
