ONE PAN BAKED ZITI WITH SAUSAGE (EASY CHEESY ITALIAN COMFORT DINNER)
This One Pan Baked Ziti with Sausage is a cozy, cheesy, and satisfying Italian-style comfort meal made with tender pasta, rich tomato sauce, savory sausage, and melted cheese baked to perfection.
Equipment
- Large oven-safe skillet or baking dish
- Mixing spoon
- Oven
Ingredients
Pasta & Protein:
- 12 oz ziti pasta uncooked
- 1 lb Italian sausage casings removed
Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Cheese:
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
Optional Garnish:
- fresh basil chopped
Instructions
Cook Sausage:
- Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet. Cook sausage until browned, breaking it into crumbles.
Add Sauce:
- Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Add Pasta:
- Stir in uncooked ziti and mix well. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Bake:
- Top with half of the mozzarella cheese. Transfer to oven and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes.
Finish Cheese:
- Remove from oven, add remaining mozzarella and Parmesan, then bake for another 5–10 minutes until bubbly.
Serve:
- Garnish with fresh basil and serve warm.
Notes
- Use spicy sausage for extra flavor.
- Add spinach or mushrooms for variation.
- Leftovers reheat very well for meal prep.