Baked Ziti

From Food Network Kitchens

Show: How To Boil WaterEpisode: Easy Bake Menu

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (155)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(155)

Cook Time:
40 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
about 6 to 8 main course servings

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 40 min
Total:: 50 min

Recipe Tools:

Select a Card Size

Add To My Recipe Box

Success

This recipe was added to your Folder_Name folder.

Do not show this message again

Add To My Recipe Box

Please sign in to add this recipe to your Recipe Box.

Ingredients

1 pound dried ziti pasta
Kosher salt
3 1/2 cups Quick Tomato Sauce, recipe follows
1 pound fresh mozzarella, half cut into 1/2-inch cubes and half thinly sliced
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously, and boil the pasta until al dente, tender but still slightly firm. Drain.

Toss the cooked pasta with the marinara sauce, cubed mozzarella, half the Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and pepper flakes. Transfer the pasta to an oiled 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Cover the top of the pasta with the sliced mozzarella, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

Quick Tomato Sauce:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound sweet and or spicy Italian sausages, casing removed and crumbled

1/4 medium onion, diced (about 3 tablespoons)

3 cloves garlic, chopped

3 1/2 cups whole, peeled, canned tomatoes in puree, (one 28-ounce can), roughly chopped

Sprig fresh thyme

Sprig fresh basil

2 teaspoons kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.

Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the salt and season with pepper, to taste. Use now or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.

Yield: about 5 cups

Prep Time: 8 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Next Recipe

More recipes? Try these recommendations:

Similar Recipe

Turkey Lasagna

Similar Recipes

Recipes Like This

All About…

Recipe Collections

Showing 1-10 of 18

View all 18 Italian Collections

Comments & Reviews

recipe Baked Ziti
Jennifer Spring, TX 10-30-2009
Flag

Amazing!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this last night and it was a hit! A very picky toddler LOVED it!
recipe Baked Ziti
Meg Raleigh, NC 10-25-2009
Flag

Excellent BASIC recipe
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is a great simple & basic recipe. Just what I needed. I improvised and crumbled bacon and meatballs and fresh basil... and parsley to the top layer. Covered by extra cheese of course! Everybody liked t a lot.Read more
recipe Baked Ziti
Suzanne South Burlington, VT 10-20-2009
Flag

WOW
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

So great and soooooooooooo easy
recipe Baked Ziti
Kris Chevy Chase, MD 09-19-2009
Flag

so good leftover too
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Awesome. I made a double batch to freeze. We had the frozen version last night and it was even better. I baked it for about... an hour at 375, stirring it a little the last 10 minutes or so. Sooooo good. I'm making it for my preggo friends to have in the freezer. Read more
recipe Baked Ziti
Barbara Greenacres, FL 09-13-2009
Flag

ONE GREAT ZITI DISH!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I followed this recipe exactly. Only change (from other suggestions) was to double the tomato sauce recipe. I used 5 cups... sauce instead of 3 1/2 cups. I saved the left over for spaghetti. This sauce will now become my NEW pasta sauce, and it's easy! This ziti dish is absolutely delicious and will be a keeper for me. The sausage is a must instead of any other meat. It really gives the sauce a wonderful flavor. If you must kick it up, slightly increase the pepper flakes or add a bit of hot sauce. Otherwise, the way it is written is great!!Read more
recipe Baked Ziti
Lori Washington, DC 07-20-2009
Flag

One of my most requested dishes
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Great, classic, basic ziti recipe. I've made this several times and I hardly every have leftovers! When making the sauce,... I always use half sweet italian chicken sauage and half spicy chicken sausage - its a little healthier and adds a good mixture to the ziti. The sauce ends up more chunky than saucy, so if you want more I'd suggest having a jar on hand to add to the mix - it doesn't hurt to add just a bit more. Also, be sure to have an extra bag of shredde mozzerella on hand. there never ends up being enough in this recipe alone, and exposed noodles will get axtra crunchy and burnt. Feel free to add any other veggies - I like zucchini and bel peppers. You can basically throw anything in this dish and it's great!Read more