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Servings8
Prep Time20minutes minutes
Cook Time50minutes minutes
Total Time1hour hour 10minutes minutes
Ingredients
1 pound Italian sausage
1 small yellow onion diced
1 (28 ounce) jar pasta sauce or marinara sauce
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
½ cup water
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
16 ounces ziti
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1 large egg
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
thinly sliced fresh basil leaves or chopped fresh parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, brown the sausage and onion, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain any fat.
Add the pasta sauce, tomatoes, water, and Italian seasoning. Simmer uncovered for 12 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Meanwhile, boil ziti in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Drain well.
In a small bowl, mix ricotta, egg, parsley, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
Add 1 cup of sauce to the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Layer half of the ziti, top with all of the ricotta mixture, and half of the sauce.
Add remaining ziti, remaining sauce, and top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
If replacing the sausage with ground beef or turkey, add 2 cloves of garlic and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the meat as it cooks.½ teaspoon red pepper flakes can be added to the sauce for a little kick if you’d likeTo Prepare Ahead of Time: Prepare as directed, storing the 1 cup of cheese for the topping in a separate container. Refrigerate, tightly covered, for up to 48 hours or freeze for up to 4 months. If frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight. Remove from the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking. Bake for 25 minutes, add the cheese, and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 642 | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 31g |
Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.003g |
Cholesterol: 118mg | Sodium: 1243mg |
Potassium: 774mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1067IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 356mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.