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There’s something about piping hot pasta topped with melted cheeses that makes me weak in the knees. This recipe for Baked Ziti has been in my arsenal for quite a few years now. If I’m ever in the mood for some quick but delicious pasta, this is usually my go-to. The ingredients are incredibly simple and it’s finished in about 45 minutes. This is hands down the perfect pasta when you’re in a pinch on a busy work night. Life can be so hectic and I’ve learned that having a quick and easy meal in your back pocket is crucial on those work nights where take out just won’t cut it.

If you haven’t been following along on my previous post, you’re missing out, but you’d know that simplicity in the kitchen speaks to me. If a recipe is cooked all in one pot or in my new favorite appliance, the Instant Pot, I’m all for it. While this is neither an Instant Pot dish nor a one-pot dish, it’s easy enough that it makes the cut. I’m sure you could make your own pasta sauce to make this meal more authentic, but I tend to take the path of least resistance and go with store bought everything!

Having made this baked ziti a few times before, I’ve found the ratio of cheese to the sauce that works best for me. Personally, I like a little more sauce and hot pork sausage in my baked ziti. If you pasta enthusiasts out there give this recipe a try, I encourage you to mix it up to make it your way! This week I made my ziti with regular sausage because that’s all the grocery store had, unfortunately. It tasted good but something was definitely missing for me. Surprisingly, I’ve never used Italian sausage. I’m not really sure how that happened but it’s definitely the move next time I make my favorite fast pasta dish.

Easy Baked Ziti

What You Need:

• 8-10 oz. ziti pasta, cooked and drained
• 1 lb. ground sausage, preferably hot
• 26 oz. spaghetti sauce
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup parmesan

Instructions:
Click here to Cook With Me!

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Bring water to a boil and cook ziti until al dente according to the pasta package.
• Drain pasta and place in a glass 13×9 baking dish.
• Brown the sausage in a skillet.
• Add sausage, sauce and 2 cups of mozzarella to the baking dish with the pasta and mix well.
• Top the pasta and sauce mixture with remaining mozzarella and parmesan.
• Bake for 30 minutes uncovered.
• Remove dish from the oven and let cool slightly.
• Serve and enjoy!

Cook With Me:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Bring water to a boil and cook ziti until al dente according to the pasta package.
• Drain pasta and place in a glass 13×9 baking dish.
• Brown the sausage in a skillet.
  

  
• Add sausage, sauce and 2 cups of mozzarella to the baking dish with the pasta and mix well.
  

  

  

  
• Top the pasta and sauce mixture with remaining mozzarella and parmesan.
• Bake for 30 minutes uncovered.
  

  
• Remove dish from the oven and let cool slightly.
• Serve and enjoy!