Description
A baked ziti dish featuring five cheeses, similar to the Olive Garden version.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage, casing removed
- 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded provolone cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Cook ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
- While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
- Stir the marinara sauce into the cooked sausage in the skillet. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
- In a large bowl, combine the drained ziti, the sausage-marinara mixture, and the ricotta mixture. Stir gently to coat the pasta evenly.
- Spread half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and half of the provolone cheese.
- Top with the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and provolone cheese, and a little extra Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned on top.
- Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef for the Italian sausage if desired.
- For a smoother sauce, blend the marinara sauce before adding it to the sausage.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 950
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Unsaturated Fat: 20
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 32
- Cholesterol: 90
Keywords: baked ziti, five cheese, Italian, pasta, casserole, comfort food