Baked Ziti with Sausage
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My Baked Ziti with Sausage has been a family favorite in our home for years. It’s one of those tried-and-true recipes I’ve made more times than I can count — and it always turns out perfect. The rich flavor of Italian sausage, layers of melted cheese, and a simple tomato puree come together to make the ultimate comfort food. It’s easy to throw together at the last minute, and it’s simple to double the recipe if you want to feed a crowd, stock your freezer, or bring a hot, homemade meal to a friend. If you’re looking for the best baked ziti with sausage, this is the one you’ll keep coming back to.
If you have time to use a crockpot, try my crockpot baked ziti.
Baked Ziti with Mozzarella Cheese
Baked ziti with mozzarella is a favorite in our home because of all the different flavors it combines. This baked ziti combines Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, cream cheese, and croutons to make this the ultimate cheesy creamy one pot wonder, perfect for any night of the week.
What Makes My Baked Ziti Recipe Stand Out
- Quick and easy to make – Just a few minutes of prep gives you a hearty, comforting meal perfect for busy nights or last-minute meals for friends.
- Kid-friendly cheese blend – Skips the ricotta (which not all kids love) and uses mozzarella, cream cheese, and parmesan for a creamy, cheesy dish everyone will enjoy.
- Topped with crunchy croutons – Adds a fun, delicious twist that makes this baked ziti even more irresistible!
Baked Ziti Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe. Scroll down to the full recipe card for the specific amounts.
- Ziti pasta – Ziti pasta noodles are perfect for the recipe! I mean it is called baked ziti for a reason. These noodles can be found at any grocery store. If you can’t find it, you can substitute for a penne pasta if you really need to, but definitely try to only use ziti noodles.
- Italian sausage – Italian sausage is the only meat in this baked ziti recipe. I love to use Italian sausage for a little bit more flavoring without overpowering the dish. I wouldn’t consider Italian sausage spicy, so therefore it is perfect for kids.
- Onion – Onion adds a bit of texture to this Italian baked ziti recipe.
- Garlic – Garlic gives this baked ziti some flavor depth and is so perfect for this comfort classic.
- Tomato puree – I use tomato puree for a lighter sauce version of baked ziti with sausage rather than using marinara or spaghetti sauce. I feel like it gives it a lighter flavor and texture to allow the other flavors of this dish to be the star.
- Italian seasoning – Italian seasoning helps elevate this dish with the true Italian flavor you crave with this baked ziti recipe.
- Garlic salt – This helps add a little more garlic flavor to the dish and just a touch of salt that this recipe needs.
- Mozzarella cheese – Secretly one of my favorite cheeses. I feel like all Italian dishes need a little bit of mozzarella cheese in them.
- Cream cheese – The cream cheese is giving this baked ziti without ricotta recipe the creaminess that you love in other baked ziti recipes, but yet a whole new level of delicious flavors. Don’t skimp on the cream cheese because it is so tasty.
- Croutons – You might initially be a critic with croutons in baked ziti with sausage, but once you try it you won’t go back… In fact, I bet you find yourself adding more to this recipe next time you make it!
- Parmesan cheese – No Italian pasta dish is complete without the parmesan cheese. Opt to get a brick of it, rather than the pre shredded version. It holds its flavor better than the pre shredded versions.
How to Make Baked Ziti with Sausage
Making this simple baked ziti recipe is really easy to make. It really comes down to a few minutes of prep and then cooking it in the oven.
Here are my step-by-step instructions so you can make this recipe with ease. For the full, printable recipe with amounts and temperatures, scroll down to the recipe card below.
- In a large pot, you will want to cook your pasta as directed. Then drain and set aside.
- While this is cooking, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- In another pot on the stove, brown the sausage, onion, and garlic over medium heat.
- Drain off any grease.
- Then in a mixing bowl, combine tomato puree, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt.
- Add this to the cooked sausage.
- Then in a deeper oblong baking dish, layer half the pasta, half the sausage mixture, and then half the mozzarella cheese.
- Cut your cream cheese in small cubes and drop half of them on this layer, spreading them evenly.
- Repeat this process again with the remainder of the pasta, sausage mixture, mozzarella cheese and cream cheese.
- Top the dish with croutons.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.
- Loosely cover with foil and bake for about 30 minutes.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate – After you have cooked your baked ziti, it will last in the refrigerator 3-5 days in an airtight container.
- Freeze: If you are going to freeze your baked ziti with mozzarella cheese then I usually assemble it , but don’t add the croutons. I then double wrap it in plastic wrap and then cover with aluminum foil.
- Reheat: When we are going to eat it, I get it out of the freezer the night before and put it in the fridge overnight and let it thaw. Reheat it in a warm oven until heated through.
What is the difference between baked ziti and lasagna?
The most recognizable difference between baked ziti and lasagna are the noodles you use. The sauce in this recipe is different as well as the added croutons which makes this recipe a little more unique and delicious!
What Should I Serve with Baked Ziti with Sausage?
This baked ziti is plenty filling by itself, but I love to have:
- A small salad or caesar salad
- Breadsticks or a crusty loaf of french bread
Find More Pasta Favorites
- Roasted Tomato Pasta Recipe
- Pasta alla Vodka
- Sausage Tortellini Soup
- Goulash Recipe
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta
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Baked Ziti with Sausage
Ingredients
- 16 ounce box ziti pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1/2 cup finely diced onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 28 ounces tomato puree
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded
- 8 ounces cream cheese cut into cubes
- 1 cup croutons garlic-flavored
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta as directed. Drain and set aside.16 ounce box ziti pasta
- Heat oven to 350.
- Brown sausage, onion and garlic in skillet over medium heat. Drain.1 pound Italian sausage, 1/2 cup finely diced onion, 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- In mixing bowl, combine tomato puree, Italian seasonings, and garlic salt.28 ounces tomato puree, 2 teaspoons Italian seasonings, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- Mix with cooked sausage.
- In a deep oblong baking dish, layer half of the cooked pasta, half of the sausage mixture, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Drop half of the cream cheese cubes on the layer – spreading out so they’ll spread as they cook.8 ounces mozzarella cheese, 8 ounces cream cheese
- Repeat layers and top with croutons.1 cup croutons
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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