Name: The Best One Pot Baked Ziti
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 8 ounces Italian sausage, casings removed; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 can tomato sauce (28-ounce); 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounce); 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon sugar; 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 2 cups water; 12 ounces ziti (about 3 3/4 cups); 6 tablespoons chopped fresh basil; 6 ounces baby spinach (about 6 cups); 6 ounces whole milk mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4-inch pieces; 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup); 8 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese (1 cup)

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)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cups water
12 ounces ziti (about 3 3/4 cups)
6 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
6 ounces baby spinach (about 6 cups)
6 ounces whole milk mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup)
8 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese (1 cup)

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Instructions

In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, breaking the meat into 1/2-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.
Stir in the water, pasta, 1/4 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.
Remove the pasta from the heat and stir in the spinach, 3/4 cup mozzarella, and 1/2 cup of Parmesan. Dollop the surface of the pasta evenly with the ricotta and then top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
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