Baked Ziti - classic Italian American comfort food of pasta baked with sausage, tomato sauce and all kinds of gooey, yummy cheeses. So EASY and so good!
Do you like lasagna, but not the fuss? Make baked ziti instead! It’s a
lot like a classic lasagna casserole, but easier to make and without
lots of layers or broken noodles.
It makes for a perfect midweek or weekend meal, or a hot dish to bring to a potluck. Make extra and freeze for later.
This recipe is a pretty basic version, but everyone who makes baked
ziti has their own unique tricks and twists to it. Some vary the
cheeses, some the meat, some make meatless versions, and some people
leave out the tomato sauce for a truly cheese-tastic casserole.
Ziti is a pretty common pasta shape in most areas, but you can substitute penne pasta if you can’t find it. You want a substantial short pasta shape with places to hold the sauce and meat.
You can assemble this ahead, and either refrigerate or freeze before you do the final baking.