My Spicy Baked Ziti Recipes

BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Cook the pasta: Heat a large pot of salted water (for every 2 quarts of water, one tablespoon of salt) to a strong boil. Add the pasta and cook at a rolling boil, uncovered, until the pasta is al dente-edible but still a little firm to the bite. Drain the pasta through a colander. Toss with a little olive oil so the pasta does not stick together while you make the sauce.
• Brown the meat: While the water is heating in the previous step, start on the sauce. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan on medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering hot, add the bulk sausage or ground meat. Break up any large chunks of sausage as it cooks. Brown well. Don't stir that often or it will be more difficult for the meat to brown. If you are using ground beef or pork instead of sausage, sprinkle with a little salt.

SHARON'S SPICY BAKED ZITI WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Prepare the ziti as directed. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta.
• While the pasta is cooking, slit and remove the casings from the sausage links. Mash up the meat and place on a frying pan with a drizzle of olive oil.
• Brown the sausage meat, being careful to stir and turn the meat to make sure it is no longer pink inside. While meat is cooking, season with salt and pepper (to taste). Add 1/2 tsp of the cayenne and 1 tbsp of the crushed red pepper, too.
• When the meat is almost browned, add the minced garlic. Stir for about 1 minute and then turn off the heat so the garlic doesn't burn.
• When the pasta is cooked, drain and set aside in a colander. In the same pasta pot (with the reserved water), add the ricotta, half of the spaghetti sauce and half of the parmesan cheese. Stir until creamy.
• Add the remaining cayenne and crushed red pepper and italian seasoning to the sauce mixture.
• Add the meat to the ricotta/sauce mixture.
• Add the pasta into the sauce/meat mixture.
• Grease a casserole pan lightly with olive oil.
• Place an even layer of the pasta mixture, only using half of it.
• Place half of the mozzarella and half of the remainder spaghetti sauce on top of the pasta layer. Sprinkle with some parmesan, if desired.
• Place the second half of the pasta mixture on top of the first. Put the rest of the mozarella, spaghetti sauce and parmesan cheese on top.
• Sprinkle the top with the remaining crushed red pepper.
• Cover casserole pan with foil and bake for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees. Cheese should be melted and sauce should be a bit bubbly.

MY SPICY BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Cook Ziti according to package directions (al dente is preferred).
• In a large skillet, cook the Sausage, Onions and Garlic in Olive Oil until the sausage is browned.
• Add Spaghetti Sauce, Tomato, Tomato Paste, Chicken Broth, Rosemary and Oregano.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Mix Ricotta, Egg, and Parsley in a large bowl.
• Mix 1/3 of the sausage mixture with the cooked Ziti pasta.
• Place half of the Ziti mixture in a 13x9x2 in baking dish.
• In the following order, spread the Ricotta mixture over the Ziti, followed by half of the Parmesan and Mozarella cheeses, and then an additional 1/3 of the sausage mixture.
• Then layer the rest of the Ziti, remaining sausage mixture, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese, finishing with the Basil.
• Cover and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
• Enjoy!

BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and saute until starting to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and sausage and cook until browned. Drain off almost all of the fat, leaving a bit behind for flavor and moisture. Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and some salt and pepper. Stir, bring to a simmer and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of the cooked sauce to a bowl to cool down.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add some salt. Cook the ziti until not quite al dente.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a bowl, mix 2 cups of the grated mozzarella, the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, eggs and some salt and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times (do not mix completely).
• Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Pour it into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine (there should still be large lumps). Add the cooled reserved meat sauce and toss to combine.
• Add half the coated pasta to a large casserole dish or lasagna dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half the remaining mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of the coated pasta and the remaining sauce and mozzarella.
• Bake until bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before sprinkling with chopped parsley to serve.

EXTRA MEATY BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet, cook beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.
• Stir in spaghetti sauce.
• In a bowl, combine the eggs, ricotta, Italian seasoning or parsley if desired, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella and Parmesan.
• Drain pasta; add to cheese mixture and stir to coat evenly.
• Spoon a third of the meat sauce into a greased 9x13 pan; top with half of the pasta mixture.
• Repeat layers, ending with meat sauce.
• Cover and bake at 350 for 40 minutes.
• Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
• Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
• Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

SPICY PORK BAKED ZITI WITH RAGU

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat.
• Add pancetta and sauté until brown and crisp.
• Using slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to bowl.
• Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper.
• Add half of pork to drippings in pot; sauté until brown, about 7 minutes.
• Transfer to bowl with pancetta.
• Repeat with remaining pork.
• Add sausage to same pot.
• Sauté until no longer pink, breaking up with back of fork, about 5 minutes.
• Add onions, carrots, celery, thyme, garlic, bay leaves, and crushed red pepper.
• Reduce heat to medium-low; sauté until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add wine and bring to boil, scraping up browned bits.
• Add pancetta and pork with any accumulated juices; boil 2 minutes.
• Add tomatoes with juice.
• Cover and cook until pork is very tender, adjusting heat as needed to maintain gentle simmer and stirring occasionally, about 2 hours.
• Uncover pot; tilt to 1 side and spoon off fat from surface of ragù.
• Gently press pork pieces with back of fork to break up meat coarsely.
• Season ragù to taste with salt and pepper.
• (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated. Rewarm over low heat before continuing.).
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Butter 15x10x2-inch glass baking dish or other 4-quart baking dish.
• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally.
• Drain pasta; mix into ragù.
• Season mixture to taste with salt and pepper; transfer to prepared dish.
• Sprinkle both cheeses over.
• Bake until heated through and golden, about 20 minutes.

EASY ZITI BAKE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce. , In a large bowl, combine eggs, ricotta cheese, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese. Drain pasta; add to cheese mixture and stir until blended., Spoon a third of the meat sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; top with half of the pasta mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining meat sauce., Cover and bake 40 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.