Baked Ziti is delicious but CHEESY BAKED ZITI is even better! This is such a great family dinner and makes some of the best leftovers EVER!
Sometimes I make this just to have the leftovers!
Just start by browning the meat with lots of garlic.
Cook until the meat is no longer pink…
Throw the sauce together….
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- Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes…
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- …then all the spices…
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- …and some fresh basil too!
Let that simmer and absorb all the spices…
Make the cheese mixture…
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- Start with the ricotta…
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- add in eggs…
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- …and parmesan cheese.
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- Mix well.
Now build the casserole!
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- Start with some sauce…
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- …then dollops of the cheese mixture.
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- You can use shredded mozzarella OR these cute little moz balls.
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- They look a little like mini marshmallows.
Next is some pasta…
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- Then top with the cooked ziti noodles.
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- Cheese…
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- Sauce…
Then just continue layering until everything is in the baking dish!
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- Add the rest of the noodles,
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- and end with sauce on top.
Cover and bake until hot and bubbly.
Top off with cheese and throw back in the oven uncovered until the cheese is all melted.
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- Then add more parmesan and mozzarella. Throw it back in to bake.
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- Bake until the cheese is melted.
Top with more fresh basil and serve!
SO GOOD!!!
Try these recipes too:
Baked Pasta with Sausage and Ricotta
Pastitsio – Greek Pasta Casserole
Cheesy Baked Ziti
So creamy and cheesy, this is such a great family dinner and makes for great leftovers! @mostdeliciouslife.com
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ziti pasta
- 1 pound Sweet Italian sausage
- 4 tsp minced garlic
- 28 ounces tomato sauce
- 14.5 ounce diced tomatoes
- 2 tsp oregano
- ½ cup fresh basil, chopped **or 1Tbsp dried
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp sugar
Cheese
- 32 ounce Ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs, slightly beaten
- 1 cup parmesan, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella balls, pearl size **OR 1 cup shredded mozzarella
Topping
- 1 cup mozzarella balls **OR 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup parmesan, shredded
- fresh basil, cut or torn
Instructions
- Cook the Ziti pasta al dente. Rinse and set aside.
- In a large skillet or pot brown the sausage and garlic over medium-high heat. Cook until sausage is no longer pink.
- Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Stir in oregano, basil, salt, pepper and sugar.
- Bring to a boil. Turn down to med-low and let simmer for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a bowl mix the ricotta, eggs and parmesan cheese.
- Spread a small amount of the red sauce on the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish.
- Cover with about ½ of the pasta.
- Use a spoon to drop dollops of half of the cheese mixture onto the pasta.
- Cover with about ¾ cup of the mozzarella balls.
- Spoon on about ½ of the red sauce and spread evenly over the pasta.
- Repeat layers:remaining pasta / cheese mixture / mozzarella balls (save some for the top)
- Spread the remaining red sauce on top.
- Cover and bake for 25 minutes.
- Uncover and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and mozzarella balls.
- Bake another 15 minutes.
- Sprinkle with fresh basil.