Three-Cheese Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage
Three-Cheese Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage layers al dente pasta with rich tomato sauce, fennel-kissed sausage, and a melty trio of mozzarella, Italian blend, and Parmesan. Anchovy paste adds savory depth, while black olives and red pepper flakes bring balance and gentle heat. Serve it for family dinners or potlucks when you want bubbling edges and a satisfyingly cheesy bite.
- Prep45 mins
- Cook40 mins
- Serves12
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Three-Cheese Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 50 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 49 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 16
- Heart Health
- 66
- Metabolic
- 28
- Digestive
- 23
- Inflammatory
- 30
- Performance
- 30
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Coat a 4-quart rectangular baking dish with nonstick spray. Combine the mozzarella and Italian blend cheeses in a bowl and refrigerate.
- 2
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.
- 3
At the same time, heat 3 tablespoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and break it into small pieces. Sprinkle baking soda over the sausage, then add the onion and garlic. Cook and stir, continuing to break up any clumps as it cooks, until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour off and discard any grease.
- 4
Add the pasta sauce, olives, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, anchovy paste, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Add up to 3 tablespoons more oil if desired, and keep stirring until the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring regularly, until thickened, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the ziti.
- 5
Spread 1/2 of the sauced ziti in the prepared baking dish and evenly sprinkle 1/2 of the shredded cheese mixture on top. Spoon or ladle the remaining ziti evenly over the top without disturbing the layers underneath; it is fine if some ziti remain partially exposed as they will brown nicely and taste delicious as they bake. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese mixture on top and sprinkle Parmesan over the surface.
- 6
Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 15 minutes before serving.
- Calories 588.65 kcal High 29%
- Protein 22.94 g Good Source 46%
- Carbohydrate 47.56 g 17%
- Total Fat 34.75 g High 45%
- Saturated Fat 9.8 g High 49%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 59.55 mg Moderate 20%
- Sodium 1006.37 mg High 44%
- Dietary Fiber 3.66 g Moderate 13%
- Total Sugars 6.96 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 338.66 mg Good Source 26%
- Iron 2.82 mg Moderate 16%
- Potassium 446.56 mg Low Source 10%
- Vitamin A 77.05 mcg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin C 7.15 mg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Fish 🐟
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Three Cheese Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage is an Italian dinner recipe made with 17 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr 25 mins, serves 12, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Anchovy Paste, Baking Soda, Black Pepper, and Cooking Spray. Each serving provides about 588.65 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Three-Cheese Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage?
- It is an Italian recipe made with 17 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Three-Cheese Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage made of?
- The main ingredients are Anchovy Paste, Baking Soda, Black Pepper, Cooking Spray, Diced Onion. The full list of 17 is above.
- What goes well with Three-Cheese Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage?
- Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Three-Cheese Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage?
- About 1 hr 25 mins in total: 45 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 588.65 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Three-Cheese Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 17 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Three-Cheese Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage healthy?
- Three-Cheese Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage has an easyChef Pro health score of 35/100. Per serving, it provides 588.65 calories and 22.94 g of protein, or 46% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1006.37 mg (44% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 9.8 g (49% of the Daily Value). It contains Fish, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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