Cheesy Sausage and Pepper Baked Ziti
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Large Skillet
- 9x13 Baking Dish
- Oven
Ingredients
- 8 ounces ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 bell peppers, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- Add the onion and bell peppers to the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt, then cook for 1 minute more.
- Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the cooked ziti until evenly coated.
- Spread half the pasta mixture in a 9x13 baking dish. Dollop the ricotta over the top and sprinkle with half the mozzarella and Parmesan. Add the remaining pasta mixture and finish with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the edges are bubbly. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Brown the sausage well before adding the vegetables to build deeper flavor in the sauce. For a make-ahead option, assemble the dish up to a day in advance and refrigerate it, then add 10 minutes to the bake time. Leftovers reheat nicely in a 350-degree oven with a splash of water to keep the pasta moist.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Equipment: Large Pot, Large Skillet, 9x13 Baking Dish, Oven
Cuisine: Italian
Equipment: Large Pot, Large Skillet, 9x13 Baking Dish, Oven