Description
Alton Brown’s baked ziti delivers a comforting pasta experience with robust Italian-American flavors. Hearty layers of pasta, rich marinara, and melted cheeses create a satisfying meal perfect for family gatherings and casual dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage
- 16 oz (454 g) ziti
- 15 oz (425 g) ricotta cheese
- 2 cups (226 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 28 oz (794 g) pasta sauce or marinara sauce
- 14 oz (397 g) diced tomatoes, undrained
- ¼ cup (28 g) Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ cup (118 ml) water
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preparation Setup: Position oven rack centrally and preheat to 375°F (190°C) for optimal cooking environment.
- Meat Infusion: In a large skillet, brown ground sausage over medium-high heat, incorporating diced onions until meat is fully cooked and onions turn translucent, draining excess fat to enhance flavor concentration.
- Sauce Development: Introduce pasta sauce, water, diced tomatoes, and Italian seasoning to the skillet, simmering for 12-15 minutes to create a rich, cohesive sauce with deep flavor profiles.
- Pasta Cooking: Simultaneously boil salted water and cook ziti until perfectly al dente, then quickly drain and rinse to halt cooking process.
- Cheese Mixture Creation: Blend ricotta, egg, parsley, mozzarella, and parmesan in a mixing bowl, ensuring thorough incorporation of ingredients for a creamy, well-integrated filling.
- Layering Foundation: Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish, spreading initial sauce layer, then strategically arrange pasta, cheese mixture, and additional sauce in carefully constructed tiers.
- Cheese Topping: Generously sprinkle extra mozzarella across the surface to create a golden, bubbling cheese crust during baking.
- Baking Finale: Slide the casserole into the preheated oven, baking uncovered for 25-30 minutes until cheese melts and turns a beautiful golden-brown color.
- Resting Period: Allow the ziti to rest 5-10 minutes after removing from oven, enabling layers to set and flavors to meld perfectly before serving.
Notes
- Manage Moisture Mastery: Drain pasta and meat thoroughly to prevent a watery, soggy casserole that lacks the perfect texture.
- Cheese Blend Strategy: Mix cheeses completely to ensure even distribution and create a creamy, consistent layer throughout the dish.
- Sauce Depth Development: Simmer sauce longer to intensify flavors and create a richer, more concentrated taste profile.
- Temperature Timing Trick: Allow the ziti to rest after baking, which helps the layers solidify and makes serving cleaner and more precise.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg