Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Total: 45 mins

Servings: 4 to 6 servings

This Italian-American staple doesn’t have to be filled with sauce to be tasty, as this recipe will show. The creamy, cheesy sauce coats the pasta beautifully, and some Italian sausage, lots of cheese, and mushrooms provide both protein and texture. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the heavier tomato-based ziti. For a heartier meal, increase the Italian sausage to 1 pound. Or, for a lighter option, use turkey Italian sausage. See the tips (below the recipe) for vegetarian and vegan options.

The ziti casserole is baked with extra cheese melted over the top. The recipe works without any tomatoes or marinara sauce, but feel free to add some diced fresh, sun-dried, or canned tomatoes to the sauce if you'd like.

Add crusty rolls or garlic bread and a basic tossed salad for a satisfying everyday dinner.

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Ingredients

• 3 cups ziti pasta

• 1/2 pound Italian sausage, casings removed

• 4 ounces (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter

• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced

• 1 green bell pepper, or a combination of red and green bell peppers, sliced

• 1/2 cup chopped onion

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 2 1/4 cups milk

• 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese, divided

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps to Make It

1. Cook ziti according to pasta directions; drain and set aside.

2. Heat the oven to 350 F.

3. Grease a 2 1/2-quart casserole.

4. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the sausage. Remove to paper towels to drain. Wipe the pan out with paper towels.

5. Place the skillet over medium-low heat and add the butter. When the butter has melted and stopped foaming, add the mushrooms, green bell pepper, and onion; cook the vegetables until just tender. 

6. Blend the flour into the vegetable mixture, stirring until well blended and bubbly. Continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

7. Gradually add the milk and cook until the mixture begins to boil, stirring constantly.

8. Continue to cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently. Add 1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese, the Parmesan cheese,  and the pepper. Stir until the cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth.

9. Stir the hot cooked ziti and sausage into the sauce.

10. Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared casserole. 

11. Top the pasta with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese.

12. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Tip

• Great for large parties, this baked ziti can be modified for a vegetarian diet or meat-free meal. Just omit the sausage or replace it with a vegetarian ground meat substitute. The cheesy sauce makes for a satisfying meal without the meat.

Recipe Variations

• Replace the pork sausage with turkey sausage.
• Use 1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese in the pasta casserole and omit the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese. Top the casserole with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese just before it goes into the oven.
• Rigatoni and penne pasta are good substitutes for ziti.
• To make it vegan, replace the milk with a can of tomato sauce, use vegan mozzarella and vegan Parmesan cheese, replace the butter with olive oil and omit the Italian sausage. Voila, you have three dishes to serve up to your guests that fit any diet.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	703
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 47g	61%
Saturated Fat 25g	127%
Cholesterol 134mg	45%
Sodium 1181mg	51%
Total Carbohydrate 39g	14%
Dietary Fiber 3g	12%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 18mg	88%
Calcium 583mg	45%
Iron 3mg	16%
Potassium 677mg	14%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.