Description
Ziti rigate, creamy ricotta, rich tomato sauce, and a whole lotta cheese come together in this easy and classic baked ziti recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lb. beef Italian-style ground sausage
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped, divided
- 4 tsp. kosher salt, divided, plus more
- 1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (28-oz.) can tomato puree
- 1 lb. ziti rigate
- 1 (16-oz.) container whole-milk ricotta
- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups finely grated Parmesan, divided
- 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh basil
- 1 lb. shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°. In a medium saucepan over high heat, heat oil. Add sausage and break up with the back of a spoon into small pieces. Cook, stirring frequently, until cooked through and golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate, leaving fat in skillet.
- Step 2: Return saucepan to medium-high heat. Cook onion, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened and lightly golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Add 3 cloves garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute; season with 1 teaspoon salt. Add crushed tomatoes and tomato puree and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened, 25 to 30 minutes.
- Step 3: Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook ziti until al dente according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
- Step 4: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, pepper, 1/2 cup Parmesan, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and remaining 1 clove garlic.
- Step 5: Remove sauce from heat. Stir in sausage, butter, and basil; season with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Add sauce and remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan to bowl with pasta and toss to combine.
- Step 6: Layer half of pasta mixture in a 15″-by-10″ baking dish. Dollop with half of ricotta mixture. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan. Top with remaining pasta mixture, then dollop with remaining ricotta mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
- Step 7: Bake ziti until cheese is melted and lightly golden brown and sauce is bubbling around the edges, 40 to 45 minutes.
Notes
The recipe can be assembled 1 day in advance and stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. Once baked, it can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 894 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 1650 mg
- Fat: 48 g
- Saturated Fat: 24 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 52 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg