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Some days call for kid-friendly food everyone will eat without complaining, and this Pizza Ziti Casserole is definitely one of those recipes.
What’s to love
- Easy to make in one pan. If you have an oven-safe braiser or skillet with a lid – this is a one pan meal you can have on the table with very little effort and very few dishes to wash.
- Kid-friendly flavors. In our house, whatever is called “pizza” gets eaten. And you can easily vary the sausage and the toppings to suit your family’s taste!
- Chopping vegetables is optional. I like to add about 1 cup of finely chopped vegetables to the sauce, but I’ve made it without when I was very short on time and it’s just fine. So, feel free to skip the chopping for a night.
This is not gourmet food – but it’s honest food for real life. A way to get a warm home cooked meal on the table even when life is busy, the budget is tight and the kids are picky!
Printable recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion or celery (or a mix (optional – feel free to skip if you’re short on time; about 1 small onion and 2 sticks celery))
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt & pepper (to taste)
- 1 (24-oz) jar marinara sauce (OR 3 cups homemade sauce)
- 3-4 cups water (OR chicken broth OR water + bouillon)
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (divided use)
- 1 (8-oz) bag shredded mozzarella cheese (divided use)
- 1 (16-oz) box ziti pasta (uncooked)
- pepperoni or salami slices (to taste (I usually use both, haha!))
Tips
- Pasta shape: You can use any short pasta shape you have on hand! Spirals, bow-ties, penne – all fine.
- Meat: Feel free to use ground beef, ground pork, ground turkey… or even a mix in place of the Italian sausage. Just keep in mind that the ground sausage is seasoned, so if you use a plain ground meat, you may want to add a little extra seasoning.
- No skillet? If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet or braiser with a lid, stir the pasta into the sauce BEFORE adding the water/broth. Transfer it to a deep 3.5 – 4-quart casserole dish, THEN stir in the liquid. Cover tightly with foil and place in the oven.
Instructions
- Prep:An oven-safe braiser or skillet (3.5 – 4 quart) with an oven-safe lid works best for this recipe. Preheat oven to 400F. Get your ingredients ready.
- Cook vegetables and sausage:Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook vegetables until softened, about 5 minutes.Add sausage and cook until no longer pink; drain and stir in seasonings.Tip: Season well enough so the pasta doesn’t turn out bland – I do ½ teaspoon salt and as much pepper as I feel like that day; if you’re using broth instead of water, be careful with how much salt you add.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 cup chopped onion or celery, 1 pound Italian sausage, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, salt & pepper
- Add remaining ingredients:Add pasta sauce, water, ½ cup Parmesan cheese and ½ cup mozzarella cheese; stir to combine. Add the uncooked pasta to sauce in skillet; mix gently.Note: You only need ½ cup of each cheese in this step, save the remaining cheese for topping later!1 (24-oz) jar marinara sauce, 3-4 cups water, 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, 1 (16-oz) box ziti pasta, 1 (8-oz) bag shredded mozzarella cheese
- Bake:Bake, covered, at 400F for 25-30 minutes or until the pasta is nearly done. Carefully remove from oven, remove cover (careful, hot steam!) and stir.
- Finish baking:Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese; arrange pepperoni slices on top and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, until browned on top and bubbly.Tip: For toppings, I like a mix of mozzarella, salami, Parmesan, and pepperoni (in that order!) I don't smooth the top and leave some without cheese for crispy pasta edges!pepperoni or salami slices
- Serve:Let the casserole sit on the counter for 5 minutes, then serve immediately.
Pizza Baked Ziti
make your kitchen smell like home?Pizza Baked Ziti FAQs
Yes, absolutely! Any mid-size pasta shape like penne, spirals, or even bow-ties are fine in this dish.
Yes! You do not need to pre-cook the pasta at all. It cooks right in the sauce, while the casserole bakes in the oven! So easy, and the pasta gets infused with extra flavor.
Yes. Just skip the bacon and cook the onions in butter or olive oil instead. A sprinkle of smoked paprika adds a similar warmth.
Perfect to serve with
More casserole recipes
If dinner needs to be easy but still cozy and comforting, these casserole recipes are for you. They’re warm, hearty, and so satisfying – real-life meals that bring everyone to the table without a lot of fuss.
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