This Cheesy Creamy Baked Ziti is beyond your everyday pasta. It's easy yet tastes extraordinary. Perfect for weeknight family meals and weekend guests alike.
Prep Time: 15 minutesmins
Cook Time: 30 minutesmins
Total Time: 45 minutesmins
Servings: 6servings
Ingredients
16ouncepackage of ziti
olive oil for sprinkling
1lbItalian sausage, no casings
5clovesgarlic, minced
1onion, finely chopped
3cupsyour favorite spaghetti sauce
1 ½cupsfreshly chopped spinach, not frozen; coarsely chop
1cupplain Greek yogurt
6ozshredded Monterey Jack cheese
5ozshredded Mozzarella cheese
½cupfreshly grated Parmesan
¼cupchopped fresh basil
Instructions
In a large pot of generously salted water, cook ziti just until slightly firmer than al dente. Go about 1 minute less than package instructions for al-dente. Drain, but don't rinse. Sprinkle with olive oil, toss, and set aside.
In a heavy large saucepan over medium heat, brown the sausage, into small pieces. Add garlic and onion, stirring for 2 minutes or until soft. Stir in spaghetti sauce and spinach. Simmer just until sauce is warmed through and spinach is wilted. stir in yogurt and remove from heat. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350F, with rack on lower middle position. In a 3 quart baking dish, spread a thin layer of sauce over the entire bottom of dish. Arrange half of the ziti in the dish. Layer with half of the Monterey Jack and half of the Mozzarella. Pour half of the spaghetti sauce over the cheeses, spreading sauce evenly onto sides and corners. Repeat layers of ziti, cheeses, and sauce. Sprinkle Parmesan over the top and bake about 30-40 minutes, until cheese is bubbly.