Description
This Pizza Baked Ziti is a comforting and hearty Italian-American casserole combining savory Italian sausage, ziti pasta, marinara sauce, and a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. It features a delightful pizza-inspired twist with pepperoni or salami slices, baked to bubbly perfection with crispy cheesy edges, making it a perfect meal for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion or celery
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 1 (24-oz) jar marinara sauce (or 3 cups homemade sauce)
- 3-4 cups water (or chicken broth or water + bouillon)
- 1 (16-oz) box ziti pasta (uncooked)
Cheeses & Toppings
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (divided use)
- 1 (8-oz) bag shredded mozzarella cheese (divided use)
- Pepperoni or salami slices, to taste (usually both)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Use an oven-safe braiser or skillet with an oven-safe lid, ideally 3.5 to 4 quarts in size. Prepare all your ingredients so they are ready to go.
- Cook vegetables and sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion or celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the Italian sausage and cook until it is no longer pink. Drain excess fat if necessary and stir in Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste, seasoning well to avoid blandness.
- Add remaining ingredients: Pour in the marinara sauce and water (or broth). Stir in half of the Parmesan (1/2 cup) and half of the mozzarella cheese (1/2 cup). Add the uncooked ziti pasta and carefully mix everything to combine evenly in the skillet.
- Bake: Cover the skillet with the lid and bake in the oven at 400°F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the pasta is nearly cooked through. Remove carefully from the oven, remove the cover (watch out for hot steam), and stir the ziti gently.
- Finish baking: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top, arrange pepperoni or salami slices as desired, and sprinkle on the remaining Parmesan cheese. Return the skillet to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes or until the top is browned and bubbly, allowing some edges to crisp up nicely.
- Serve: Remove the baked ziti from the oven and let it sit on the counter for about 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set slightly for easier serving and better flavor melding.
Notes
- Season well when cooking the sausage mixture to prevent bland pasta.
- Using chicken broth instead of water adds more flavor, but adjust salt accordingly.
- You can mix different toppings like mozzarella, salami, Parmesan, and pepperoni for variety and texture.
- Leaving some areas without cheese can create crispy pasta edges which add delightful texture.
- An oven-safe braiser or skillet with a lid is ideal for cooking and baking in one vessel.
