Alton Brown Baked Ziti - Delish Sides (2024)

Baked Ziti by Alton Brown is a simple and fast casserole with tangy Italian sausage sauce, soft ziti noodles, a creamy ricotta layer, and a gooey mozzarella topping. An enjoyable home-cooked meal in just under an hour!

Try More Alton Brown Recipes:

• Alton Brown Ham And Bean Soup
• Alton Brown Snickerdoodle
• Alton Brown Irish Soda Bread

💗 Why You’ll Love This Baked Ziti Recipe:

• Rotta in baked ziti is a simple way to update the iconic lasagna dish.
• Use ziti pasta instead of long lasagna noodles and bake it with beef sauce and plenty of cheese.
• You won’t believe the price and the amount of taste compared to Italian restaurant pasta!
• Adding Italian sausage to this ziti recipe—or any pasta sauce- elevates the flavor!
• You may cook this ziti recipe in advance and refrigerate or reheat it at your convenience. Just one meal will be plenty for several days!

❓ What Is Alton Brown’s Baked Ziti Recipe?

Alton Brown’s Baked Ziti is a flavorful and comforting dish featuring Italian sausage, ziti pasta, a savory tomato sauce, and a rich blend of ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese, baked to perfection for a delightful and golden result.

🧅 Alton Brown Baked Ziti Ingredients

• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 1 small onion diced
• 28 ounces pasta sauce or marinara sauce
• 14 ounces of diced tomatoes undrained
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• ½ cup water
• 16 ounces ziti
• 15 ounces ricotta cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
• 1 egg
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese shredded

👩‍🍳 How To Make Alton Brown Baked Ziti

1. Get your oven up to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Sauté the onion and ground sausage until the sausage is crumbled. Remove the fat.
3. Toss in the pasta sauce, water, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Let it simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it thickens.
4. Let the ziti boil in salted water until it’s tender. Rinse and drain.
5. Combine the ricotta, egg, parsley, mozzarella, and parmesan in a small bowl.
6. Spread a thin layer of sauce (about 1 cup) onto the base of a greased 9×13 pan. Divide the ziti in half, then layer the ricotta and sauce.
7. Top with cheese and add the rest of the ziti and sauce. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until puffed and golden.

💭 Recipe Tips

• For the sauce to boil gently without spilling, use a large saute pan.
• Pasta will cook more in the oven, so cook it al dente, or slightly underdone.
• Add extra seasonings, salt, and a tablespoon of olive oil to the sauce if you use ground meat instead of sausage.
• Sprinkle some fresh parsley or basil on top before serving.
• If you want to make baked ziti in advance, follow the recipe directions and put it in the fridge for at least an hour. If your recipe is cold from the fridge, you might have to bake it for an extra 5 to 10 minutes.
• Split the mixture into two 9-inch baking plates and freeze half if you like. After a night in the fridge to thaw, bake till bubbling and hot.

🍗 What Pairs Nicely With Baked Ziti?

Accompany baked ziti with a variety of meals such as stuffed mushrooms, cheese curds, onion rings, beef shanks, yellow rice, green beans, cheesy garlic bread, roasted chicken, tomato salsa, and creamed corn.

🎚 How To Store Leftover Baked Ziti?

• In The Fridge:To keep leftover baked ziti in the fridge for 4 to 5 days put it sealed container or cover it tightly with plastic.
• In The Freezer:Leftover baked ziti can be frozen for up to a month if wrapped tightly in foil and placed in a freezer-safe container. Allow it to defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.

🥵 How To Reheat Leftovers Baked Ziti?

• Oven:Bring the oven temperature to around 350 degrees F then set baked ziti in an oven tray and heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until hot.
• Microwave: Throw baked ziti into a microwave-safe dish and heat for 5 minutes on medium power, stirring occasionally or until heated.
• Air Fryer: Turn the air fryer up to 350 degrees F then arrange baked ziti in an air fryer basket and heat for about 5 to 10 minutes.

FAQs

Try More Alton Brown Recipes:

• Alton Brown Tartar Sauce
• Alton Brown Sweet Potato Casserole
• Alton Brown Cheese Souffle

Alton Brown Baked Ziti Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving

• Calories 579
• Total Fat 19g
• Saturated Fat 9.1g
• Trans Fat 0g
• Cholesterol 82mg
• Sodium 1349mg
• Potassium 848.4mg
• Total Carbohydrates 71g
• Dietary Fiber 6.8g
• Sugars 11g
• Protein 29g