• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Pork Recipe Ideas
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Holiday
  • About Us
  • Cookbooks
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Holiday
  • About Us
  • Cookbooks
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Holiday
  • About Us
  • Cookbooks
×
Home » Pork Dinner Recipes

Sausage Baked Ziti

Published: Apr 6, 2023 · Modified: Jun 21, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

Share
Pin6
Share
Tweet

Pork Recipe Ideas is an Amazon Associate and may receive compensation for purchases made through affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

A hearty, satisfying, utterly indulgent supper is only a few steps away with my easy Sausage Baked Ziti! Chock full of gooey cheese, flavorful sausage and crunchy peppers, this baked pasta with sausage is sure to become a weeknight favorite.

sausage baked ziti on a fork over a pan of ziti
Jump to:
  • Baked Pasta with Sausage
  • Pasta Sausage Bake Ingredients
  • How to Make Oven Baked Pasta
  • Pasta Bake Recipe Tips
  • Baked Pasta with Sausage FAQs
  • Recipes with Sausage
  • Save the Pin! 📍
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Reviews

Baked Pasta with Sausage

There's nothing like the amazing smell of sausage baked pasta to bring everyone to the kitchen! Every time I put this Italian sausage casserole in the oven, I can count down the minutes before my family comes in to ask what's cooking.

Let me tell you, there's never a disappointed face when I pull this pasta sausage bake from the oven! I've tried a lot of pasta bake recipes in my time, but it's hard to beat how easy, flavorful and indulgent baked ziti is.

And who would think it would be so easy, too? Using only one pan plus a pot for the pasta, a few easy steps and the rest of the time in the oven, this baked pasta with sausage recipe comes together in no time- and leaves tons of time for sides!

a closeup of a skillet full of sausage baked ziti

Pasta Sausage Bake Ingredients

  • Ziti pasta
  • Butter
  • Italian pork sausage
  • Salt and pepper
  • Green bell pepper
  • Red onion
  • Flour
  • Whole milk
  • Cheddar
  • Parmesan
  • Parsley (optional)
sausage baked ziti ingredients

How to Make Oven Baked Pasta

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF, and set a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Melt the butter in the skillet. While melting, prepare the ziti to package directions.
    butter melting in a skillet
  2. Add the sausage to the pan, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until nicely crumbled and browned. Remove from the spatula, but leave the fat!
    cooked sausage being removed from a skillet with a slotted spoon
  3. Add the sliced green peppers and onions to the pan, cooking in the sausage fat until tender but not browned.
    peppers and onions added to a skillet to saute
  4. Stir in the flour until no clumps remain, then add the milk slowly, stirring continuously.
    flour being stirred into a skillet of peppers and onions
  5. Cook over medium heat, stirring consistently, until the milk has thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add in the shredded cheese and Parmesan.
    cheese added to a bubbling skillet of peppers and sauce
  6. Stir until the cheese has melted completely, adding salt and pepper to taste.
    cheese sauce, peppers, and onions being mixed in a skillet
  7. Add in the prepared ziti and sausage, then stir again.
    cooked ziti being added to a skillet of sausage, peppers, and sauce
  8. Place the entire pan in the oven, uncovered, and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Garnish with parsley, and serve!
    sausage baked ziti after being baked in a skillet

Pasta Bake Recipe Tips

  • The ziti will cook a little more once placed in the oven, so drain it once it's al dente (slightly underdone).
  • You want a large, completely oven-safe skillet, such as a cast iron skillet. Anything with plastic on it will not be oven safe!
  • If you don't have an oven-safe skillet, pour the mixture into a casserole dish to bake.
  • While the sausage is browning is the perfect time to let the ziti cook! The sausage, peppers and sauce should be ready just in time to add the pasta.
  • Make sure to save and use the sausage fat! It takes the place of butter for this recipe and adds a ton of incredible flavor.

Baked Pasta with Sausage FAQs

Should Baked Ziti be covered when baking?

Baked ziti does not need to be covered while baking! This is because you are cooking the pasta before putting it in the oven. Covering the pasta helps it steam, which is helpful for uncooked pasta, but can make cooked pasta too soft. Leave cooked pasta uncovered so the cheese can form a nice crust!

What meat goes with Baked Ziti?

Baked ziti truly shines when paired with Italian pork sausage! This spicy, flavorful meat mixes into the sauce easily and flavors the entire dish. It's also in small enough crumbles that it cooks evenly in the oven and adds a great aroma.

How do you keep Baked Ziti from drying out?

It's important to use enough liquid to keep baked ziti from drying out. For a baked ziti with precooked noodles, you will need less liquid than a pasta bake using uncooked noodles, but both will need plenty of liquid regardless! This keeps the pasta nice and moist after baking.

Is Baked Ziti basically lasagna?

While baked ziti and lasagna are both baked pasta dishes that typically incorporate cheese and meat, they are not the same dish! "Ziti" and "lasagna" are both types of pasta, and the dishes are named after the pasta used. While both are baked in the oven with sauce, this is the only persistent similarity.

Recipes with Sausage

  • Italian Sausage Lasagna
  • Spaghetti with Sausage
  • Air Fryer Italian Sausage
  • Creamy Pasta with Sausage
  • Kielbasa and Potatoes
a top down view of a skillet of sausage baked ziti with sprinkled parsley

Did you enjoy this recipe? Try more of my best pork recipes, and leave a comment and rating below! We love to hear from you.

Save the Pin! 📍

Did you enjoy this recipe? Share it on Pinterest!

Pin

📖 Recipe

a finished baked skillet of sausage baked ziti

Sausage Baked Ziti

Flavorful sausage, creamy sauce, and crunchy peppers come together in one luxurious pan with my Sausage Baked Ziti. It's a weeknight favorite!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 422 kcal

Equipment

  • Oven-proof skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Ziti
  • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
  • ½ lb Italian pork sausage
  • 1 cup Green bell pepper cut into strips
  • ⅓ cup Red onion sliced
  • ⅓ cup Flour
  • 2¼ cups Whole milk
  • 2 cups Cheddar cheese shredded
  • ½ cup Parmesan grated
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Parsley optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF, and set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Melt the butter in the skillet. While melting, prepare the ziti to package directions.
    1 lb Ziti, 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
    butter melting in a skillet
  • Add the sausage to the pan, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until nicely crumbled and browned. Remove from the spatula, but leave the fat!
    ½ lb Italian pork sausage
    cooked sausage being removed from a skillet with a slotted spoon
  • Add the sliced green peppers and onions to the pan, cooking in the sausage fat until tender but not browned.
    1 cup Green bell pepper, ⅓ cup Red onion
    peppers and onions added to a skillet to saute
  • Stir in the flour until no clumps remain, then add the milk slowly, stirring continuously.
    ⅓ cup Flour, 2¼ cups Whole milk
    flour being stirred into a skillet of peppers and onions
  • Cook over medium heat, stirring consistently, until the milk has thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add in the shredded cheese and Parmesan.
    2 cups Cheddar cheese, ½ cup Parmesan
    cheese added to a bubbling skillet of peppers and sauce
  • Stir until the cheese has melted completely, adding salt and pepper to taste.
    Salt and pepper
    cheese sauce, peppers, and onions being mixed in a skillet
  • Add in the prepared ziti and sausage, then stir again.
    cooked ziti being added to a skillet of sausage, peppers, and sauce
  • Place the entire pan in the oven, uncovered, and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Garnish with parsley, and serve!
    Parsley
    sausage baked ziti after being baked in a skillet

Video

Notes

  • The ziti will cook a little more once placed in the oven, so drain it once it's al dente.
  • You want a large, completely oven-safe skillet, such as a cast iron skillet. Anything with plastic on it will not be oven safe!
  • If you don't have a cast iron skillet, pour the mixture into a casserole dish to bake.
  • While the sausage is browning is the perfect time to let the ziti cook! The sausage, peppers and sauce should be ready just in time to add the pasta.
  • Make sure to save and use the sausage fat! It takes the place of butter for this recipe and adds a ton of incredible flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 422kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 19gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.05gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 418mgPotassium: 302mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 445IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 304mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Baked Pasta with Sausage, baked ziti with sausage, sausage baked pasta, Sausage baked ziti
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Isabel Laessig
Isabel Laessig
Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!
» About Me
Isabel Laessig
Latest posts by Isabel Laessig (see all)
  • Korean Meatballs - September 28, 2023
  • Pork Carnitas Recipe - September 21, 2023
  • Pork Tenderloin Recipes - September 14, 2023
Share
Pin6
Share
Tweet

More Pork Dinner Recipes

  • a bowl of bulgogi meatballs and rice with sauce
    Korean Meatballs
  • crispy baked carnitas in a pan with lime and cilantro
    Pork Carnitas Recipe
  • two slices of stuffed port tenderloin on a white dish
    Pork Tenderloin Recipes
  • pork chop sandwich next to mayo mustard sauce in a bowl
    Pork Chop Sandwich

About Isabel Laessig

Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!
» About Me

Reader Interactions

Comments

No Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

a portrait of Isabel Laessig

Hello! I'm Isabel, aka the Family Foodie, and I am the creator of Pork Recipe Ideas. I hope to be your number one source for easy pork recipes!

More About Me

Best Pork Recipes

  • shredded pork butt on a cutting board
    Grilled Pork Butt
  • boneless pork chop on a plate with vegetable sides
    Air Fryer Boneless Pork Chops
  • pork rub sesoned pork in the smoker
    Pork Rub Recipe
  • two pan fried pork chops in a black skillet
    Pan Fried Pork Chops
  • pork chops with mushroom gravy in a black pan smothered with mushrooms
    Mushroom Pork Chops
  • pork egg rolls stacked on top of a wooden serving board
    Pork Egg Rolls

Footer

Our Brands

Pork Recipe Ideas | Best Beef Recipes | Sunday Supper Movement | Easy Sauce Recipes | Side Dish Ideas

About Us

  • Contact Us
  • About Pork Recipe Ideas
  • Disclosure & Privacy
  • No AI
  • Sign up for our Newsletter!
Sunday Supper Logo

Pork Recipe Ideas is part of the Sunday Supper Media publishing family.

↑ back to top

Copyright ©2022-2023 Pork Recipe Ideas, All Rights Reserved.