Baked Ziti

Baked ziti is the ultimate Italian-American comfort bake: tube pasta tossed with rich marinara and creamy ricotta, blanketed in mozzarella and baked until golden and bubbling. It feeds a crowd with almost no effort and never fails to disappear.

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

35 mins

Total time

55 mins

Servings

8 servings

Calories

640

Ingredients

• 450g ziti pasta
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 500g Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 800g canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp salt and 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 400g ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 60g grated Parmesan, divided
• 400g shredded mozzarella
• Fresh basil, to serve

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 190C (375F) and lightly oil a large 23x33cm baking dish.
2. Cook the ziti 2 minutes less than the package directions so it stays firm, drain and set aside.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the sausage, breaking it up, for about 7 minutes.
4. Add the onion and cook 4 minutes until soft, then stir in the garlic for 30 seconds.
5. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt and pepper, and simmer 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
6. Stir the ricotta, egg and half the Parmesan together in a bowl.
7. Toss the drained ziti with the meat sauce, then fold in the ricotta mixture.
8. Spread into the baking dish, top with mozzarella and remaining Parmesan, and bake 25 minutes until golden and bubbling. Rest 10 minutes before serving with fresh basil.

Pro tips

• Undercook the pasta slightly — it finishes in the oven and absorbs flavor.
• Use whole-milk ricotta for the creamiest filling.
• Assemble up to a day ahead and refrigerate; add 10 minutes to the bake time.
• Swap the sausage for mushrooms to make it vegetarian.

Frequently asked questions