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A bowl of insanely good baked ziti
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Easy Baked Ziti

This decadent, simple pasta casserole is perfect for a meaty, gooey, and cheesy comfort food. This potluck favorite is an absolute crowd-pleaser and serves as a hearty side dish or main course. As a fast-food classic, you know it's easy to throw together.
Course dinner, Main
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 523kcal
Author Imma

Ingredients

  • 3 strips bacon, cut into tiny pieces
  • 1 pound Italian sausage
  • olive oil, for cooking
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 teaspoon garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoon thyme, fresh
  • 1-2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 14-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 pound ziti pasta, cooked according to package instructions
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cup mozzarella, shredded
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

The Meat

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté bacon until brown and crisp. This may take about 6-7 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
  • In the same skillet, add Italian sausage to the pan, cook for about 3-5 minutes or until brown, and break it up to prevent clumping.

The Sauce

  • If you need more oil, add a little olive oil, then throw in the onion, garlic, thyme, and Italian seasoning – sauté for about 2-3 minutes or until onions are translucent.
  • Stir in tomato sauce and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer and let it cook for at least 30-45 minutes.
  • While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta al dente (pasta with a bite to it). Do not overcook it, or it will get mushy.

Assembly

  • Once the sauce is ready, remove the bay leaf and add bacon and pasta.
  • Perform a taste test, then adjust salt, pepper, and seasonings as needed.
  • Stir in the parmesan cheese and mozzarella, setting aside about ½ cup or more to sprinkle on top.
  • Transfer to a greased 2-quart baking dish or 13"x9" baking dish.
  • Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
  • Bake, uncovered, at 350℉/177℃ for about 20-30 minutes or until ziti is heated through and the top is slightly brown.
  • Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes.
  • Serve while it is still piping hot.

Notes

  • You may have noted that this recipe doesn't include ricotta cheese as many baked ziti recipes do. Honestly, I found the ricotta a bit dry after baking and prefer to use freshly grated parmesan instead, which stays moist and gooey.
  • After you pull this pasta out of the oven, let it rest for about 5 minutes so the cheese firms up and flavors can come together before serving.
  • Fresh herbs are an excellent garnish for this dish. Fresh chopped parsley or basil look so beautiful and taste amazing.
  • Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 240g | Calories: 523kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 28g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 1360mg | Potassium: 542mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 495IU | Vitamin C: 5.1mg | Calcium: 515mg | Iron: 3mg