This creamy sausage baked ziti "white ziti" is rich and comforting and loved by ALL! I call this "white" baked ziti since it is made with a cream sauce instead of red sauce.
Here is a warm and comforting meal that will satisfy your taste buds as the weather changes and temperatures drop.
More Italian comfort food recipes: Leftover Ham Recipes- Baked Ham and Cheese Pasta, BEST Italian Beef Short Rib Ragu, and Classic Italian Lasagna Bolognese with Bechamel Sauce.
Why you will love this recipe
You will love the ziti pasta with the sweet and mild Italian sausage with hints of fennel, flavored with fresh sage, drowned in beautiful heavy cream, then topped with a shredded mozzarella, and a parmigiano bread crumb mixture then baked until bubbly perfection.
Yes, this rich meal is a bit of savory treat- so what? Mangia! (Eat!).
Jump to:
- Simple Ingredients
- Instructions- Step by step photos
- Baked Ziti Comfort Food
- The Perfect Baked Ziti
- Variations
- Is baked Ziti American or Italian?
- How long to bake "baked ziti"
- How long should ziti rest?
- What does "Ziti" mean in Italian?
- Serving Suggestions
- Make ahead of time
- FAQ's
- How to freeze baked ziti
- Creamy Sausage Baked Ziti "White Baked Ziti"
Simple Ingredients
- Ziti pasta (penne or rotini can also work)
- Onion
- Sage
- Mild Italian sausage
- Heavy cream
- Bread crumbs
- Hint of nutmeg
- Parmigiano
- Shredded mozzarella
Instructions- Step by step photos
The process of making this pasta casserole is simple and easy!
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Grease a 9x13 in glass or oven safe pan with butter, set aside. In a small glass bowl combine parmigiano cheese and bread crumbs, stir to combine and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
- While waiting for the water to boil, cook the Italian sausage in a large skillet oven over medium-high heat until crumbly, browned, and no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Drain and set aside. In the same pan, on medium heat, stir in the onions, nutmeg, and sage; cook until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and add cream. Stir to combine.
- Add pasta to boiling water and cook until al dente directions. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water. Add hot pasta and reserved pasta water to skillet with creamy sausage. Stir to combine.
- Add the creamy sausage ziti to the prepared baking dish and top shredded mozzarella and the parmigiano and bread crumb mixture. Pour the remaining ¼ cup cream evenly over the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and bubbly. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving. Mangia! (Eat!)
Baked Ziti Comfort Food
This is a meal worth adding to your fall and winter menu. If you can believe it, this meal is a much lighter version than most baked ziti recipes since it isn't covered inside and out with pounds of cheese.
You know what? It is actually more luxurious and enjoyable this way. Wait until you try it! Run to make this recipe.
I promise you will come back to make it again. The added spinach greens adds a fresh touch that makes it even a little "extra extra". Get ready to dive head first into this meal!
The Perfect Baked Ziti
This baked ziti recipe is a little different that most American- style baked ziti recipes. Mainly, it doesn't have 100 lbs of shredded cheese in the recipe or as a topping.
This delicious creamy sausage baked ziti gets its richness from the cream and sausage and topping of aged parmigiano cheese and a bit of shredded mozzarella.
The cream coats the pasta and the sausage gets trapped inside the ziti pasta to create the perfects bite!
The gorgeous parmigiano topping (hint: I add a little bit of bread crumbs for crunch) gives it the perfect cheesy coat without being overbearing.
We call this "white" baked ziti since it doesn't have a typical red sauce with meat.
Trust me when I say, you won't miss all that meat and cheese. These simple and delicate flavors stretch a long way to achieve a perfect balance of flavors and texture. I can't wait for you to try this! This meal is absolutely decadent and delicious!
Variations
This recipe is delicious as it is, but if you want to add some greens you can add these additions when cooking the onions:
- 1-2 cups (depending on how much of the greens you like) fresh spinach or arugula
- ½ cup frozen peas
It's delicious both with and without the green additions!
More Italian sausage recipes: Broccoli Pasta with Sausage Recipe (Italian), Orecchiette with Sausage Peppers and Arugula (video), and Italian Sheet Pan Sausage, Potatoes, and Tomatoes.
Is baked Ziti American or Italian?
In the traditional way that American's make baked ziti with lots of cheese and loads of meat- it is a developed Italian- American recipe.
As you might know it baked ziti is a pasta casserole-type dish baked with a variety of other ingredients, mostly chunky sauces, cheese, meat, and vegetables such as mushrooms, peppers, and onions.
The dish is considered a hybrid of Italian and American cuisines, basically an Americanized variety of a typical Italian dish, pasta al forno, which is commonly compared to baked ziti.
This recipe is called "white baked ziti" since we leave out the red sauce and traditional beef meat.
How long to bake "baked ziti"
This baked ziti recipe doesn't require a lot of baking time. You are really only baking it to get the cream to bubble and the cheese topping to crisp.
The pasta is cooked separately and the cooked with the sauce a bit before baking. Read more about how to make the perfect pasta every time!
How long should ziti rest?
I know, you want to dig into that how bubbly delicious casserole right away! Patience, it is worth the extra ten minutes of rest time.
All the bubbly creamy juices need time to settle and bind together to make the dish extra tasty.
Allowing the dish to hang out for five to ten minutes after cooking will give the sauce a chance to settle into the nooks and crannies of your pasta.
What does "Ziti" mean in Italian?
In Italian it means "Macaroni of the bride"
Ziti is short for maccheroni di zita, or "macaroni of the bride." This comes from ziti's popularity as part of a wedding buffet, particularly in Sicily and Southern Italy.
Ziti is an extruded pasta, originating in the Campania region of Italy. It is shaped into a long, wide tube that serves well with meat and cream based sauces.
Serving Suggestions
This homemade baked ziti recipe is filling and delicious! For sides I recommend a few light dishes. Start with an Italian Fennel, Citrus, Pomegranate and Salad and serve with a side of Fast Italian No Knead Ciabatta Bread.
Don't forget dessert! Classic Italian Tiramisu Recipe (Authentic) or Best Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust!
Make ahead of time
Make ahead If you need to make it a day before using, refrigerate the assembled ziti meal before baking. Add about 10 minutes to the baking time if baking a refrigerated pan of ziti.
Leftovers …Oh yes! In fact, baked ziti tastes even better the longer it sets. If you assemble and bake the ziti ahead of time, it keeps in the fridge for about three days. To keep it longer, freeze it and reheat it before serving.
Pasta should not be left to sit out in the open uncovered for more than two hours. Make sure to store your leftovers after your meal!
FAQ's
This easy casserole can last for up to 5 months in the freezer if it's tightly packaged. Freezer prior to baking for best results, but you can also freeze it after.
This easy casserole can last for up to 5 months in the freezer if it's tightly packaged. Freezer prior to baking for best results, but you can also freeze it after.
How to freeze baked ziti
Before it’s baked.
Freezing the assembled baked ziti before it is baked helps maintain texture and prevents it from getting too soggy.
After assembling the baked ziti in an oven safe pan, wrap the top with plastic wrap and aluminum foil.
Then, write the date and freeze until ready to use! When you’re ready to use your frozen and assembled ziti, transfer it to the refrigerator and let it defrost overnight.
Then, take it out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes while your oven preheats.
Pronto! Baked Ziti is ready!
After it’s baked.
Make sure your baked ziti cools before freezing it. You can freeze the large part that is leftover or break it up into individual servings first.
Transfer pieces into freezer-safe food containers or wrap the slices first in plastic wrap and then in foil, and store them in a freezer storage bag.
To reheat the large or individual slices- simply remove the ziti’s freezer wrappings, cover the top with new foil and bake until heated through. You can also microwave it. That’s it! Lunch or dinner is ready on a busy day.
This "white baked ziti" is a classic comfort food meal everyone loves. What's not to love about a warm and creamy pasta dish casserole?
From my Cucina to Your Table. Mangia! Mangia! (Eat!)
Made with Amore, Elena
More Delicious Recipes for YOU:
Authentic Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna (Vegetarian)
Best Italian-Style Chili Recipe
Polenta and Mushrooms (with sage and butter)
Perfect Roast Chicken with Citrus and Fennel
SIMPLE Mashed Potatoes (dairy free) and Caramelized Onions
Creamy Parmigiano Herb and Mushroom Chicken
Creamy Polenta with Polpette al Sugo (meatballs in tomato sauce)
Have you checked out my NEW CBE PRODUCTS? Take a look at the 2-in-1 cutting and charcuterie board, gorgeous apron, and unique pasta server that you that you absolutely need. The wood products are all handmade in Salt Lake City, Utah. They make great gifts as well!
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Print
Creamy Sausage Baked Ziti "White Baked Ziti"
This creamy sausage sage baked ziti is rich and comforting and loved by ALL! We call this "white" baked ziti. Satisfy your taste buds as the weather changes and temperatures drop.
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 lb (453 g) ziti pasta
- 1 lb sweet Italian sausage
- 1 teaspoon fresh sage, finely chopped
- ½ white or yellow onion, chopped
- 1 cup freshly grated parmigiano cheese
- ¼ cup bread crumbs
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 cups heavy cream + ¼ for pouring on top
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon of fresh chopped parsley for topping
- butter for greasing pan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Grease a 9x13 in glass or oven safe pan with butter, set aside. In a small glass bowl combine parmigiano cheese and bread crumbs, stir to combine and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
- While waiting for the water to boil, cook the Italian sausage in a large skillet oven over medium-high heat until crumbly, browned, and no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Drain and set aside. In the same pan, on medium heat, stir in the onions, nutmeg, and sage; cook until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and add cream. Stir to combine.
- Add pasta to boiling water and cook until al dente directions. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water. Add hot pasta and reserved pasta water to skillet with creamy sausage. Stir to combine.
- Add the creamy sausage ziti to the prepared baking dish and top shredded mozzarella and the parmigiano and bread crumb mixture. Pour the remaining ¼ cup cream evenly over the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and bubbly. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving. Mangia! (Eat!)
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Savory
- Method: Italian
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: sausage, baked ziti, cream sauce, baked pasta, main dish, Italian recipe
Layne Schwabedissen says
Now this is an Italian pasta! Satisfying but not overly heavy; simple and lets the flavors shine! Next time I’ll add more nutmeg. Grazie mille, Elena! Ben fatto!
★★★★★
Elena says
Happy you loved it!
Pamela says
Hi, Elena. I'd like to make this dish and attempting to assemble all of the ingredients. Can you tell me what type of bread crumb should be used in this dish?
Elena says
Hello! You can use fine Italian style bread crumbs or even Japanese panko style bread crumbs! Enjoy!
Pamela says
Thanks! Compiling my ingredients now. I already have Japanese panko breadcrumbs but assumed that maybe Italian style would be better. Good to know that both can be used. I'll let you know how it turns out!
Elena says
Sounds great!
★★★★★
Michelle Lalli says
This looks so delicious! I plan on making it for my Italian family…what brand of sausage to you recommend?
Elena says
I know they will love it. Any mild Italian sausage will do. I like to get it from the butcher in the meat department at any local store. Your favorite brand will also work well. Enjoy!
Shantay says
My whole family loved this!
★★★★★
Elena says
It's a meal everyone loves! Happy your family enjoyed it.
Michelle Lalli says
This pasta dish is fabulous. If you love sausage and sage...who doesn't...this is a must!! It was so easy to make. I prepared it the night before and took it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before popping it into the oven. It was a big hit, a new family favorite!!
★★★★★
Elena says
So happy the entire family loved it!
Suzette says
My Italian family loves this recipe! My son requested it for his birthday dinner, recently! I love all of your recipes and thank you for them! It's getting so my Sunday dinner guests ask, "Is this one of @cucinabyelena recipes?" I love it!!
★★★★★
Elena says
This is the sweetest! I love bringing delicious meals to your table.
Elena says
This meal is the definition of COMFORT FOOD! Delicious and easy to make.
★★★★★