Forktionary

Baked Ziti And Italian Sausage Recipe

Say goodbye to traditional tomato-based baked ziti! This recipe features a creamy, cheesy sauce and savory Italian sausage, creating a rich and satisfying dish the whole family will crave. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion, this unique twist on a classic is sure to become a new favorite. Feel free to adjust the sausage quantity – we won't judge if you need extra for those hungry teenagers!

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 100 mins
Calories 616.4 kcal
Protein 60g
Rating 5.0 (3 Reviews)
Baked Ziti And Italian Sausage 91

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Baked Ziti And Italian Sausage

  • 1 lb ziti pasta
  • 1 lb Italian sausage links
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt, divided
  • 3/4 tsp pepper, divided
  • 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 tsp paprika

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How to Make Baked Ziti And Italian Sausage

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Cook ziti according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, brown Italian sausage links over medium heat for 15 minutes, or until browned, breaking them up with a spoon as they cook. Reduce heat if necessary to prevent burning.
  4. Drain sausage well on paper towels. Slice diagonally and set aside.
  5. In a heavy saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Whisk in flour until smooth.
  6. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth.
  7. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly (about 5 minutes).
  8. Stir in 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
  9. Add cooked ziti and stir to coat.
  10. In a separate bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, ricotta, egg, parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Mix well.
  11. Lightly grease a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish.
  12. Layer half of the ziti mixture in the prepared baking dish.
  13. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the ziti.
  14. Top with half of the sliced sausage.
  15. Repeat layers with remaining ziti mixture and sausage.
  16. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and paprika.
  17. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 1 hour.
  18. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

66 g

Sugar

6g

Fat

95g

Carbs

10g

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Main Courses Main Dish / Dinner Beef & Red Meat Pork Recipes European Italian Baking

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Preparation Occasion Main Dish Pork Comfort Food Meat Pork Sausage Pasta Rice And Grains Taste Mood Presentation Served Hot 4 Hours Or Less From Scratch