Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage

(5 stars based on 53 reviews)

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Chunky marinara sauce, Italian sausage and mushrooms team up with ziti pasta in this flavorful baked dish. Fennel seeds add a unique Italian flair. This one is perfect for entertaining.

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Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage

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Ingredients:

8 ounces dry ziti pasta
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
12 ounces mild Italian sausage links, casings removed
6 ounces sliced mushrooms
1/4 teaspoon fennel seed (optional)
2 containers (15 ounces each) BUITONI Refrigerated Marinara Sauce
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons BUITONI® Freshly Shredded Parmesan or Romano Cheese

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 400° F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

PREPARE pasta according to package directions.

HEAT oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sausage; cook, stirring frequently, until no longer pink. Drain. Add mushrooms and fennel; cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are tender. Add sauce; cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Remove from heat.

ADD pasta to sauce mixture; toss well to coat. Spoon into prepared baking dish; sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.

BAKE for 15 to 17 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

FOR FREEZE AHEAD:
PREPARE as above; do not bake. Cover; freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.

PREHEAT oven to 400° F.

BAKE for 25 to 35 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Review This Recipe

A true pleaser

Bethany from KY

I made this for my fiance for his birthday and served it with breadsticks. Not only did he love it, but his family loved it too. It is also extremely easy to make. Will make again!
mom2kjl

Kelley Chesebrough from Westminster

Yum! Even my super picky husband went back for seconds.
baked ziti

Brook Green from Otsego, MI

It was pretty easy to throw together and not all that time consuming. It also tasted really good.
Very good!

Katrina from Taylorsville, UT

This recipe was easy to make and everyone in my family really enjoyed it. I will definitely make this one again.
awesome!!!

rosalind manzano from VENTURA, CA

My family absolutely loved this pasta!! It is sooooo good.The mushrooms and sausage........mmmm..u cant beat that combination. This is a keeper. Thanks
OK

Lora from

This Ziti is O.K., nothing fabulous. My husband said, "Less sausage next time Honey!" I added garlic and extra fennel to kick it up, but still just average. Next time I may stir in some cottage cheese or ricotta.
yummy

heather stsinon from adolphus, KY

Wow, this recipe is easy to make and so delicious, Everyone that has eaten it in my family just cant believe how yummy it is. It's always brought up in a conversation!
Outstanding

Valerie Murphy from Irvine, CA

This recipe is EASY and a HIT! This has been my husband's favorite dish! I can make it once a week and he's happy! I make it for parties and everyone wants the recipe!
Just like lasagna, without the work!

Hollie Toenjes from EMMETT, KS

This was great! It was a lot like my homemade lasagna without all the work. Even the kids loved it and they won't eat anything!
OK

miles from Norfolk, VA

good - should have added the fennel seed - that adds the licorice flavor that is the kicker - excellent
Ziti

Laura Arellano from LAREDO, TX

Excellent dish. My husband isn't big on pasta, but ever since seeing a similar dish on the Sopranos, has been wanting to try it. This is a new family favorite!!
Baked Ziti

Janese Rosevelt from WHITE LAKE, MI

GREAT recipe for guests! Add a salad and garlic toast! I was afraid to add fennel. I did add onion.
Great

Heather Rodriguez from Orlando, FL

This was a great recipe. my son loved the sausage in the ziti. we did not add any fennel seeds because we did not have any in the spice cabinet. but it was a great, easy to make recipe. we will make it again and again
Great springboard

Susan Marshall from Ajax, Ontario, Canada

This recipe is a great springboard to your creativity. I added onion and garlic while browning the italian sausage ( I left the sausage in the caseing, just made big chunks). Added some dried basil, then the mushrooms. Used sausage, onion and pepper sauce instead of marinara (all I had), and followed the recipe with the mushrooms and cheese. Excellent result!! Plus, I didn't have ziti so I used penne. Served with garlic toast and voila, great meal. I think I will make it for the SuperBowl get together!!!
Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage

Cyndy B Wilber from Ravena, NY

We left out the fennel because we don't care for it, but the rest of the recipe was very well received. We had it for dinner last night!
GREAT DISH!!!!!

Kerri from Wichita, KS

This is one of my family's favorite dishes now. I also served it with garlic cheese bread and doubled the sausage and cheese. My husband and I have 5 children, and of the 4 that eat solids...IT IS A HIT!!! The baby doesn't know what he is missing!:)
GREAT DISH

melissa harley from Portage, IN

I used more sauage about 19 oz. I used 2 bay leafs when browning the meat. I drained the grease. added more mushrooms, 8 oz. added half of a yellow and green pepper. half of a medium onion, and about 1 teaspoon of garlic to meat mixure. I cooked on low until the vegetables were soft. . removed the bay leafs then added the marina sauce. I followed the rest of directions. This was delicious!!!! Easy to make and quick. Tasted better then a restaurant. My boyfriend and I both agreed. served with garlic cheese bread. For desset french silk pie.
Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage

tray sayama from SAN JOSE, CA

This is the best! A great dish to serve for family potlucks. It tastes kinda like lasagna, but so much easier to make!
Fabulous!

CAROL FISCHER from Batavia, IL

My 11 year old son had a nutrition assignment, and we made this together. Everyone enjoyed it, and we doubled the recipe, and quadrupled the meat. It was great, and so were the leftovers! We added salad and garlic bread. It was a great hit with the grandparents, and aunt in town. We washed it down with some good red wine!
SAUSAGE BAKED ZITI

lynda harmon from coatesville, PA

Great flavor, quick & easy definitely will make again
Baked Ziti with Italian sausage

M bischoff from New Windsor, IL

My students absolutely loved this casserole dish. Quick and easy to make. We added green peppers, black olives and some garlic -- very yummy. Will definitely make this recipe again :-)
Very yummy!!

Kristy from Phoenix, AZ

I made this recipie when we had company over and everyone LOVED it!! It's so easy and so yummy! Great for company or guests!
Quick, easy and delicious!!

Anne Miller from Waterford, MI

I made a few changes with the italian sausage and added onions, but this recipe is really good. It does not take long to prepare, so its great for a night when I am working. Awesome!!!
Good but missing stuff

Shawn Dickinson from Chicago,IL

I am attending a Cooking Institue in Chicago. The blends of cheese and veggies was good but needed more chunks.Try adding some diced up bellpeppers? diced onion? I experimented with this recipe and find that a more hearty garden veggie sause is better. Instead of just adding the mushrooms add bell peppers, onion ect. and go ahead and do the sausage.
Quick and Easy

Teri from Massachusetts

This was so yummy. My picky 6 year old love it. Removing the casing from the sausage makes the whole recipe.
Baked Ziti

KATHY BARTLETT from PHOENIX, AZ

This was a great recipe. I used hot sausage. Perfect for a busy night and makes alot. We all loved it.
Family loves mama 's cooking

CHARNTELLE PALARCHE from MARIETTA, GA

When I cook italian meals I hear nothing but the forks on the plates and this meal was great. I think it was the mushrooms that did it.
WOW!

Jeni from Wellington, Colorado

My whole family loved this recipe. I doubled the amount of cheese and it added so much! Delicious!
Requested by picky eaters

Lise from Keller, TX

This is a super recipe. My husband loves fennel and it adds so much to this recipe. My kids don't care for the mushroom - so I leave it out (or chop them really fine) and it is still delicious. The best thing is my 'picky' eater requests this at least once a week. It also gets me out of the kitchen - FAST!
Delicious!

diana redcross from west orange, nj

I made this dish for my family twice and they continue to enjoy this absolutely delicious meal. You could also substitute the sausage for chopped chicken with a dash of basil. It's wonderful.
Looking for a great meal?

Kylie from

Both my family and I thought that this was a great recipe for a family dinner. I had to do a family studies project for school, and needed an Italian recipe, the site was easy to access and I found this one. I made it for my family ... and got a mark of 90% ... it was great and we are planning on having it again !!!!
Good enough to share

Daryl from Texas

I made this recipe back in February. I was able to freeze the leftovers and reheat when ready. It was even better. Now I am going to make some for friends this weekend. Very easy to make.
Very, Very Good!!!

Catalina from Alexandria, VA

This is a very easy to prepare recipe and the taste is absolutely GOOD. I will definetely cook it again. This is another keeper.
Yummy!!!

Molly from Rockland County, NY

Wow, this was incredible! My boyfriend and I LOVED this!!! Added ricotta cheese and used 1 pound of sausage....left out the mushrooms and fennel. Could get by using an entire package of pasta instead of just 8 oz. I will definitely be making this again and again.
Awesome!

Cathy from Lincoln, RI

This was the best baked Ziti I've ever had! I sent leftovers to work with my husband and got requests from several people for the recipe. It will definitely be a regular in our house.
Great meal easy to prepare, excellent!

Trudi-Ann Walker from Stone Mountain, Georgia

Love this recipe. I would do without the mushrooms, but it is still perfect! Everyone in my family just loves it. Good job, excellent!
Good and plenty

Sabrina from

This was excellent. I made it even easier by eliminating the mushrooms -- I used Ragu Chunky Mushroom, instead. The kids don't like a lot of mushrooms, and this was fine. Also skipped the fennel. I used a whole pound of sweet italian sausage and cooked the heck out of it before I added the sauce. I cooked it till it was crispy, thus eliminating the possibility of coming across any fat globules later on. I drained it before adding the sauce, of course. We all really liked it!! Super easy, and inexpensive.
Spectacular!

Susan Nieuwenhuis from Austin

I saw the recipe the other day and remembered how much my husband used to like Italian Sausage, before we became vegetarians. So I went on a quest for a soy-based Italian Sausage. I finally found one made by Boca Foods. I wasn't sure of the taste, after all not all soy imitations really have the authentic flavor, but WOW, we absolutely loved this recipe!! I have enjoyed many of your recipes and I'll continue with pleasure visiting Meals.com on a regular basis! Thank you for the gift of this site!
Great!!!

Heather Cottle from Patuxent River, MD

My husband loves Italian sausage and this recipe was his favorite. The marinara sauce I used was a little spicy and made the dish even better. We will be making this one again!!
Excellent

Neelley from Columbia, Tennessee

I am a college student at UT Knoxville, and my friends and I were looking for something to make for dinner that kind of tasted like something from home. Well, I came across this recipe and decided to make it. We doubled everything and it fed about 10 people with a large helping. VERY VERY VERY good. Make this for ANYONE!!!! And it is also easy to make....I have to make it again for more people soon. I would add some meat in it too if you like lots of meat and sausage.
Excellent Dinner, and so easy to make!

nicolle from Orlando

I'm ten years old. I was browsing on the enternet when I found this web site. I was quite bit in the mood for pasta. Here I found this. The next day I made it for dinner. It was excellent. My parents said that was the best pasta they had ever tasted in their life! That is why they left my in charge of dinner.
so good!

Nina from Wichita Falls,TX

I loved it!! It was good just the way it was i think i could eat this every day! The whole family loved it too! Thank you so much!
A Great Dinner!!!!

Tracy Butcher from Texas

This meal has become one of our new family favorites! Its easy to make and is done fast, so even after a long day when you don't really feel like cooking its made and ready before you know it, a definite keeper! For mine I have also tried using turkey Italian sausage, and while the meat is browning I add two bay leaves, which I remove before adding the sauce, I also add some fresh onion chopped and garlic minced with the meat after it has browned, then let it simmer for a few minutes just until the onion is getting soft and somewhat clear. It adds another level of flavor to an already fantastic recipe. Thanks!!!!!
Excellent and Easy to make

Elyse from Cartwright, OK

I made it one night for dinner and my family loved it. If you are not a mushroom fan (like my husband), you can leave them out and it still tastes great. I have always made Baked Ziti with ground beef, but the Italian Sausage gives it a boost of flavor.
EASY ZITI

Juanita Behymer from St. Paul MN

This recipe was good. It was so easy. The next time I make I will add black olives to it. It is been added to my camping recipe box it is that easy.
Awesome!!!!!

Chris from Houston, Texas

Made this last night and I don't even know how to cook......Turned out awesome my whole family loved it including my 6 year old. I improvised slightly by adding fresh garlic to the recipe.....this is definitely a keeper. I will be making this again.
a family favorite

John from Pittsburgh PA

I agree with the other reviews, however, if you love this recipe you should really try it with fennel seeds. They add another beautiful layer in this well-balanced dish
I impressed my mom!

Mary from Ft.Lauderdale, FL

I'm not a very experienced cook, but this recipie was super easy. It doesn't take long to make at all and that's what I needed! Very yummy with a salad or a side of green beans. I loved the fennel, but I also added some extra Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper when cooking the sausage. This is my new back-up, emergency recipie!
Not a bad one yet!

kimberly clements from Indianapolis, IN

Out of 6 or 7 recipes my husband and I have not disliked one of them. Best thing that has happeded to our dinner time. Thanks1
Quite Exquisite!!

Stasiac from Newark, DE

This recipe was fantastic. The chopped mushrooms provided the perfect complement to this meal. I prepared this dish for my girlfriend and myself for Valentine's day, and needless to say the night will not soon be forgotten. I would recommend, however, inviting several hungry people- else not aggrandizing the ingredients as I did!

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe

Servings Per Recipe: 4

Calories: 640
Calories from Fat: 250
Total Fat: 28g (43% of DV)
Saturated Fat: 10g (48% of DV)
Cholesterol: 55mg (18% of DV)
Sodium: 1770mg (74% of DV)
Carbohydrates: 64g (21% of DV)
Dietary Fiber: 6g (23% of DV)
Sugars: 16g
Protein: 36g
Vitamin A: 4% of DV
Vitamin C: 2% of DV
Calcium: 40% of DV
Iron: 15% of DV

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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