Hearty Italian Sausage Baked Ziti Casserole

This comforting baked ziti combines Italian sausage and three cheeses in a rich tomato sauce for a hearty Italian comfort food meal.

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Cook Time 35

Total Time 35

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Italian

Main Ingredients

1 pound ziti pasta
1 pound Italian sausage
15 ounces ricotta cheese one container
1 egg
2 tablespoons parsley
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided (1½ cups for mixing, ½ cup for topping)
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
28 ounces pasta sauce one jar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente.
In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, parsley, 1½ cups mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.
Add cooked Italian sausage and cooked ziti pasta to the bowl. Stir in about ¾ of the pasta sauce until well coated.
Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole dish and spread evenly with a spatula.
Top with the remaining pasta sauce and sprinkle the reserved ½ cup mozzarella cheese over the top.
Bake for 30-35 minutes until edges are bubbling and cheese is golden and crispy.

This baked ziti freezes well; cover with foil before freezing and reheat in the oven for a convenient make-ahead meal.