Description

Cheesy Baked Ziti features rich marinara and heavy cream, layered with transformative cheeses. It’s an excellent choice for quick dinners, bringing delightful flavors to the table with minimal effort. This comforting dish is sure to please everyone.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound ziti pasta
1 pound italian sausage, ground
1 cup diced yellow onion
4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon italian seasoning
½ cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
8 ounces fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
¼ teaspoon red chili flakes, for serving
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F with a rack in the center position.
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the ziti al dente according to package instructions, then drain.
In a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat, add the sausage, onion, and garlic. Cook until the meat is browned and the onions are softened, about 8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
Stir in the marinara sauce, tomato sauce, salt, Italian seasoning, and heavy cream until well combined. Mix in the cooked ziti and 1½ cups of shredded mozzarella.
Transfer the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.
Top with fresh mozzarella slices and the remaining ½ cup of shredded mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes until the pasta is tender. Remove foil, sprinkle with Parmesan, and return to the oven uncovered for about 5 more minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
Serve with red chili flakes and fresh basil on top.

Notes

Feel free to substitute ground beef or turkey for the sausage if preferred.
For a vegetarian version, replace sausage with additional vegetables like zucchini or mushrooms.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 500
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 1000mg
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Unsaturated Fat: 13g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 50g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 22g
Cholesterol: 85mg