50 minutes
A comforting and flavorful dish made with sausage, bell peppers, ziti pasta, and a cheesy topping, all cooked in one pan.
Whole Tomatoes, with juice
0 oz
Sweet Italian Sausage, casings removed
0 lb
Garlic, minced or pressed
tablespoons
teaspoons
cups
Ziti
0 oz
Bell Pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
each
to taste
to taste
cups
Parmesan Cheese, grated
cups
Fresh Basil Leaves, chopped
cups
Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
cups
1. Preheat the oven
Adjust your oven rack to the middle position and preheat your oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Process the tomatoes
In a food processor, pulse the whole tomatoes with their juice until they are coarsely chopped. This should take about 6-8 pulses.
3. Cook the sausage
In a 12-inch ovensafe nonstick skillet, cook the sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon until it is no longer pink. This should take about 3-5 minutes.
4. Add garlic and red pepper flakes
Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet, stirring for about 30 seconds until the garlic becomes fragrant.
5. Simmer tomatoes
Stir in the processed tomatoes and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes.
6. Cook pasta and peppers
Stir in the water, ziti, bell pepper, and a pinch of salt. Bring the mixture to a rapid simmer, cover the skillet, and cook for 14-17 minutes, stirring occasionally until the pasta is just tender.
7. Add cream, Parmesan, and basil
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream, grated Parmesan, and chopped basil. Season with salt and ground black pepper to taste.
8. Top with mozzarella and bake
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the top of the pasta. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and nicely browned.
9. Serve
Serve hot and enjoy your One-Pan Cheesy Sausage and Pepper Ziti Bake.
Start with the highest quality sausage you can find. Opt for fresh, Italian sausage from your local butcher or market for the best flavor. If you have a preference or dietary restriction, you can choose between spicy or sweet sausage, pork or chicken.
Cover the baking dish with foil for the first part of the baking to prevent cheese from burning, then remove the foil towards the end for a browned and bubbly top.
Cook your ziti until it’s just under al dente and reserve some pasta water to adjust the consistency of your sauce if needed.
Use a mix of mozzarella for meltiness and a sharper cheese like Parmesan or Pecorino Romano for flavor. Freshly grate your cheese for better melting and flavor.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes after baking to allow the cheese to set and make serving easier.
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