Lazy Day Cheesy Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-18 · Updated 2026-05-18

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A comforting baked ziti featuring spicy Italian sausage, ricotta, and melted mozzarella, perfect for an effortless family dinner. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs ziti pasta, Italian sausage, marinara sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 30 min Serves 6 Italian cuisine 650 cal/serving

Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

14 oz ziti pasta
1 lb, casing removed Italian sausage
3 cups marinara sauce
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
3, minced garlic cloves
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

The 9x13 baking dish we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Bakeware & baking tools → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 14 oz ziti pasta and cook for 8 minutes until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 lb Italian sausage with casing removed and 3 minced garlic cloves. Cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking up sausage, until browned and cooked through.
Step 3: Stir in 3 cups marinara sauce, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
Step 4: In a large mixing bowl, combine drained pasta, sausage sauce, 1 cup ricotta cheese, and 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix gently until well combined.
Step 5: Transfer mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan evenly over the top.
Step 6: Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling with lightly golden edges. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.