Baked Ziti with Sausage and Mozzarella

A classic baked ziti with Italian sausage, rich tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella. Perfect for a comforting and satisfying meal, and easy to make ahead for busy weeknights.

Prep Time

20 minutes

Total Time

55 minutes

Calories

795 kcal

Difficulty

Easy

Equipment

4 items

Cost

£2.73/serving

Season:

☀️ Summer

Meal Type:

Lunch•Dinner

Cuisine:

Italian

Cooking Style:

Quick & Easy•Baking

Mood:

Comfort Food

Ingredients

Servings

1poundZiti pasta

£1.20

1poundItalian sausage(Sweet or hot, casings removed)

£4.50

2tablespoonsOlive oil

£0.30

1mediumOnion(Chopped)

£0.40

3clovesGarlic(Minced)

£0.15

28ouncesCrushed tomatoes

£1.80

2tablespoonsTomato paste

£0.20

1teaspoonDried oregano

£0.05

1teaspoonDried basil

£0.05

1teaspoonSugar(Optional, to balance acidity)

£0.01

1teaspoonSalt(Or to taste)

£0.01

0.5teaspoonBlack pepper(Or to taste)

£0.03

15ouncesRicotta cheese(Whole milk or part-skim)

£2.50

1Egg(Large)

£0.30

0.5cupGrated Parmesan cheese

£1.50

0.3cupFresh parsley(Chopped)

£0.40

16ouncesMozzarella cheese(Shredded)

£3.00

Total Cost

£16.40

£2.73 per serving

Instructions

1.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2.
Cook ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3.
While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through.
4.
Add onion and garlic to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
5.
Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, sugar (if using), salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6.
In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, and parsley. Mix well.
7.
In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti, sausage tomato sauce, and ricotta cheese mixture. Toss gently to combine.
8.
Pour half of the ziti mixture into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese.
9.
Pour the remaining ziti mixture over the mozzarella cheese. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
10.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
11.
Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

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My Notes

Nutrition Information

Nutrition per serving (390g)

795 kcal / 3326 kJ

Carbs

62g

24% of RDA

Fat

42g

60% of RDA

Protein

43g

86% of RDA

Detailed Breakdown

Fibre

5 g

17% of RDA

Sugar

15 g

17% of RDA

Sodium

1250 mg

54% of RDA

Saturated Fat

20 g

100% of RDA

Chef's Tips

To make ahead: Assemble the ziti up to the baking step. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, add 10-15 minutes to the baking time.

For a richer flavor, use whole milk ricotta cheese.

Add other vegetables to the sauce, such as bell peppers or mushrooms.

Substitute ground beef or turkey for the Italian sausage.

Cooking Equipment

Large pot

Large skillet

9x13 inch baking dish

Oven

Wine Pairings

No wine pairing suggestions available for this recipe.

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