• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Bless this Mess
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Sides
  • Desserts
  • Snacks
  • Holidays
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • All Recipes
  • Recipe Filter
  • Cookbooks!
  • Our Story
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • All Recipes
    • Recipe Filter
    • Cookbooks!
    • Our Story
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Bless This Mess > Recipes > Easy Dinners > Beef

    The Best One Pot Baked Ziti

    Published: Apr 20, 2017 · Modified: Sep 19, 2019 by Melissa · 19 Comments

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Mail
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    The best cheesy One Pot Baked Ziti recipe with sausage and spinach; everything, including the noodles are cooked in one pot and then finished in the oven.

    Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Baked Pasta, One Pot Cheesy Sausage Pasta and Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon are some of my other really great recipes for baked pasta.

    The best cheesy One Pot Baked Ziti recipe with sausage and spinach; everything, including the noodles are cooked in one pot and then finished in the oven.

    One Pot Baked Ziti

    Few things are more delicious than a big bowl of warm cheesy pasta. Throw in spinach and a little sausage and you really have my attention. This one pot baked ziti recipe is one of my all-time favorite simple family-friendly meals and I have been so excited to share it with you. This recipe is great because it truly only takes one pot to make the whole meal. You start by cooking the sausage and garlic and then add your tomatoes and let it simmer to create a killer sauce. Then you add water and your pasta and cook the pasta right in the sauce. Add your cheese and broil to bubbly pasta perfection. Did I mention you only need to dirty one pot?! I'm telling you, this is the way to cook. There's actually a lot of spinach in this one pot baked ziti dish, which I loved. It's rich and hearty, but full of vegetables too. Make this recipe and you'll be winning at life.

    The best cheesy One Pot Baked Ziti recipe with sausage and spinach; everything, including the noodles are cooked in one pot and then finished in the oven.

    This recipe comes from Cook's Country One-Pan Wonders cookbook (Cook's Country is a sister company with America's Test Kitchen), and I'm excited to review the book with you today. Oh man, there is so much to love! When I got an email announcing this book, I was super excited. Easy delicious family-friendly meals are what I'm all about, and this book is a powerhouse of knowledge. One-Pan Wonders is divided up by the type of pan that you use to cook the meal - sheet pan, Dutch oven, skillet, roasting pan, casserole, and slow cooker. I thought this was a super practical/fun/useful way to divide up the sections of the book.

    The best cheesy One Pot Baked Ziti recipe with sausage and spinach; everything, including the noodles are cooked in one pot and then finished in the oven.

    Here are a few tips and trick for this One Pot Baked Ziti recipe:

    • It makes a lot of food, so plan on leftovers or having it when you have company; it's definitely company worthy.
    • My kids did not like the whole cooked spinach leaves. Next time I'm going to give the spinach a rough chop before adding it to the pot. That way the pieces will be easier to eat and harder for the kids to notice/pick out.
    • Full-fat cheese really makes this extra ooey-gooey rich and hearty. I highly recommend seeking it out.

    What dutch oven do you recommend?

    • I just got my mom this gorgeous Lodge dutch oven (color called Lagoon) for Christmas and she loves it. I recommend it if you don't have one yet. For under $60 it is a steal, and makes a gorgeous gift.

    Can I make this recipe with gluten free pasta?

    I did not try this recipe with gluten-free or whole wheat pasta. I think that the amount of liquid need and cooking times will vary a lot if you use either of those. I recommend traditional pasta for this recipe.

    I can't find ziti at the store, what can I use as a substitute?

    Penne pasta is a good substitute for ziti pasta if your little store doesn't carry ziti #smalltownlife .

    What side dishes go well with baked pasta?

    This is great served with a side of crusty no knead bread or some super easy bread sticks. I also love this berry salad or any salad with homemade dressing!

    Isn't that cheese perfection?! Long live bubbly broiled cheese! I can't wait for you to make this One Pot Baked Ziti recipe because you are going to love it.

    The best cheesy One Pot Baked Ziti recipe with sausage and spinach; everything, including the noodles are cooked in one pot and then finished in the oven.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

    The Best One Pot Baked Ziti


    ★★★★★

    5 from 4 reviews

    • Author: Melissa Griffiths-Bless this Mess
    • Total Time: 1 hour
    • Yield: 4 to 6 large servings 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    The best cheesy One Pot Baked Ziti recipe with sausage and spinach; everything, including the noodles are cooked in one pot and then finished in the oven.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 8 ounces Italian sausage, casings removed
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 can tomato sauce (28-ounce)
    • 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounce)
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon sugar
    • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 2 cups water
    • 12 ounces ziti (about 3 ¾ cups)
    • 6 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
    • 6 ounces baby spinach (about 6 cups)
    • 6 ounces whole milk mozzarella cheese, cut into ¼-inch pieces
    • 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup)
    • 8 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese (1 cup)

    Instructions

    1. In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, breaking the meat into ½-inch pieces, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomato (with the juice), oregano, salt, sugar, and pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
    2. Stir in the water, pasta, ¼ cup basil, and increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer vigorously, stirring often, until the pasta is still very firm but starting to soften, 6 to 8 minutes. Meanwhile, adjust the oven rack 8 inches from the broiler element and heat the broiler.
    3. Remove the pasta from the heat and stir in the spinach, ¾ cup mozzarella, and ½ cup of Parmesan. Dollop the surface of the pasta evenly with the ricotta and then top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
    4. Broil the ziti until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the dish cool for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons of basil and serve.
    • Prep Time: 40 mins
    • Cook Time: 20 mins
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Bake
    • Cuisine: Italian

    Nutrition

    • Calories: 475
    • Sugar: 3.6g
    • Sodium: 912.4mg
    • Fat: 16.5g
    • Carbohydrates: 55.7g
    • Protein: 29.7g
    • Cholesterol: 51.4mg

    Keywords: Baked Pasta, Comfort Food, One Pot, Sausage

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @blessthismessblog on Instagram and hashtag it #blessthismess

     

    If you liked this recipe, try these:

    • Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Baked Pasta
    • Creamy One Pot Macaroni and Cheese
    • One Pot Coconut Chicken and Rice
    • Shrimp Noodle Stir Fry
    • One Pot Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
    • One Pot Cheesy Sausage Pasta
    • Skillet Taco Pasta made with ground beef
    • Spinach Bacon Pasta Salad
    • Sausage and Pumpkin Pasta
    • Creamy Taco Pasta Salad
    • 30 Minute Simple Roasted Tomato and Sausage Pasta

    One Pot Baked Ziti is a recipe I hope you make as  soon as you have room in your meal plan. Enjoy, from my kitchen to yours, and don't forget to pick up your own copy of Cook's Country One-Pan Wonders. It's a book you'll go back to again and again!

    Disclosure: The folks at America’s Test Kitchen sent me a copy of the cookbook to review. I was not paid to write this post or for my review.

    « Simple Lavash Crackers
    Easy Healthy Rainbow Popsicles »
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Mail
    Craving More

    Take the hassle out of meal planning with: Dinner Made Easy, a FREE 1 week meal plan with full shopping list, easy dinners, nutrition information, serving suggestions for each meal, and more!

    Subscribe Now
    about me

    About Melissa

    Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Laura

      January 26, 2022 at 1:26 pm

      This is my go to recipe for all things. Company coming over? Ziti. Need a cozy meal? Ziti. It's Wednesday? Ziti! Seriously, it's just so good.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Michelle Meloni

      May 10, 2021 at 10:25 am

      Is it possible to replace thawed frozen spinach instead of fresh spinach?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        May 10, 2021 at 7:01 pm

        Yes! I'd probably just use half a block, stir it in, no issue there. I'd probably thaw it first because it's pretty wet.

    3. Fuji Sushi

      November 12, 2019 at 10:58 pm

      I really enjoyed your page. Thanks so much!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Melissa

        November 13, 2019 at 1:47 pm

        Thank you for being here!

    4. Fuji

      October 15, 2019 at 2:35 am

      These look AMAZING!I definitely have to try this recipe.

      Reply
    5. Suzanne

      July 22, 2019 at 10:36 pm

      I'm so happy! My kids like this. It took me a long time to make this because I am an amateur at cooking, but it was worth it. I went out and bought a dutch oven just for this recipe, and then it wouldn't fit under my broiler so I had to transfer it to a cast iron skilllet. Next time it will be much easier to make, I'm sure.

      Reply
      • Melissa

        July 23, 2019 at 10:40 am

        I LOVE that this turned out so well for you! Congrats on a recipe well executed! If you remove a rack or two in your oven will your dutch oven fit better? If you can get it to fit, you have to try this really really easy bread recipe: https://www.blessthismessplease.com/super-simple-no-knead-bread/ it's such a great one. Thank you for leaving a comment, it made my day!

    6. Jessica

      March 08, 2019 at 12:58 am

      This looks too good!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Jazlyn R Unbedacht

      August 03, 2018 at 8:49 am

      Google searched one pot baked ziti and your blog comes up! 😀

      Reply
      • Melissa

        August 05, 2018 at 3:11 pm

        Hoooray! I hope you make it, it's a good one!

    8. love spell

      June 21, 2017 at 8:20 pm

      Hi,I log on to your blogs named "The Best One Pot Baked Ziti — Bless this mess" daily.Your writing style is witty, keep it up! And you can look our website about love spell.

      Reply
    9. Michelle

      June 08, 2017 at 7:02 pm

      I made this for dinner tonight and it is really delicious - thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Melissa

        June 08, 2017 at 9:14 pm

        Thank YOU for a kind review, that made my night. We love that meal!

    10. Christine

      May 09, 2017 at 6:12 pm

      And another winning recipe! No ziti = NO PROBLEM...... Just used the rotini I had.. No fresh basil = NO PROBLEM.... I used dried basil. Still yummy. No ricotta cheese = NO PROBLEM. I used more mozzarella and parmesan. It came out DELICIOUS and was a breeze to clean up!

      Reply
      • Melissa

        May 09, 2017 at 9:00 pm

        LOVE this comment! I feel like you are totally what makes blogging/cooking fun, let's get together and make this sometime mmmkay!

    11. andyjohnson

      April 28, 2017 at 12:12 am

      Tomorrow i made this dish in my house party. Yummy it so cheese Me any My friend really enjoy it. After eat it they said " please Andy send me this dish recipe". Italian sausage are hero in this recipe.

      Reply
    12. deb c

      April 26, 2017 at 2:33 pm

      I cut(chiffinade?) spinach up so his eye balls think its basil. He has no clue what basil tastes like...bahahahahhaha. You get to play with some fun cookbooks! Someday I will have to make Ziti.....it has a cool name!

      Reply
    13. Becky Hawkes

      April 26, 2017 at 11:05 am

      This looks too good! Who knew you could make so many different things in one pot! That Lemony linguine with shrimp and spinach sounds amazing!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    I’M MELISSA, AND I WANT TO HELP YOU FEED YOUR FAMILY WHOLESOME FOOD.

    As a hobby farmer and mom of five, I’m all about keeping it simple in the kitchen. I want healthy meals that feed my family well, and then I want to get back to my (messy) life. Let’s work together to find something yummy for your dinner table.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Chocolate Babka
    • 5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken Legs
    • Easy German Pancake Recipe
    • Mexican Hot Chocolate
    Dinner Made Easy

    Get Recipes & More for Free!

    Get my FREE Dinner Made Easy meal plan, exclusive recipes, giveaways, and behind-the-scenes updates! Get my newsletter or a new recipe every day! Unsubscribe if you aren’t into it.

    Subscribe Now

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    SEEN ON

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Tools.
    • Terms Of Service.
    • Accessibility.
    • Bylaws.

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Us
    • Cookbook FAQ
    • Find A Recipe!

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 blessthismessplease.com. All rights reserved.

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter