1. Recipes

How to Make Baked Ziti with Johnsonville Italian Sausage - A Step-by-Step Guide

When it comes to classic comfort food, few dishes are as satisfying as a hearty baked ziti. This classic Italian-American dish combines al dente ziti pasta with a rich, savory tomato sauce, and plenty of gooey, melted cheese. However, this recipe takes things a step further by adding Johnsonville Italian Sausage to the mix, adding an extra layer of flavor and heartiness to the dish.

Johnsonville Italian Sausage is known for its high-quality blend of pork, herbs, and spices, making it ...

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Ingredients

  • 1 (19 ounce) package Johnsonville® Fresh Italian Sweet Sausage Links, casings removed
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 12 ounces ziti pasta
  • 1 small eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup red wine
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed plum tomatoes
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
  • ⅓ cup pitted kalamata olives, chopped
  • 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
  • ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Information

  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 35 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
  • Servings: 5
  • Yield: 5 servings

  • In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add sausage, crumble and cook until no longer pink and lightly browned. Drain and transfer into a large mixing bowl. Meanwhile prepare ziti according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water, cover and set aside.
  • Using the same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add eggplant and cook until tender and lightly browned. Transfer to bowl with sausage.
  • Using the same skillet, heat remaining oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, sauté until tender. Pour wine into skillet, increase heat to medium-high and continue to stir until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add tomatoes and reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 10 minutes. To the bowl with the sausage mixture, add cooked pasta, basil, olives, 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Stir to combine ingredients.
  • Transfer mixture to a greased 3-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover and bake at 400 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5 minutes longer, or until lightly browned. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

    • Nutrition

    956 cal.

    • Total Fat: 52g
    • Saturated Fat: 20g
    • Cholesterol: 118mg
    • Sodium: 1793mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 72g
    • Dietary Fiber: 7g
    • Total Sugars: 8g
    • Protein: 48g
    • Vitamin C: 19mg
    • Calcium: 626mg
    • Iron: 4mg
    • Potassium: 656mg

    Categories

    Pasta recipes
    Cheese recipes
    Meat recipes
    Sauce recipes
    Baking recipes