One-Pot Baked Ziti

Thursday, October 10, 2013

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One-Pot Baked Ziti – everything cooks in the same pot, even the pasta! Italian sausage, onion, garlic, crushed tomatoes, water, ziti pasta, ricotta, heavy cream, and mozzarella cheese – 100% from scratch pasta dish that is ready in under 30 minutes! Tastes better than any restaurant. Everyone (even the kids) LOVES this recipe!! Leftovers are equally delicious reheated. #pasta #onepot #sausage #cheese #casserole

plate of baked ziti

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No-Boil Baked Ziti with Homemade Sauce

I am so excited about this recipe. This is my new “go-to” recipe for Baked Ziti. I especially love that you don’t have to boil the pasta and this is made in one pot. My favorite cooking method!

This smelled AMAZING while it was cooking, and it tasted even better. Chicken Legs took one bite and said I could serve this in a restaurant. I had to agree. I actually thought it was better than any baked ziti I’ve had in a restaurant. It was seriously delicious! I had leftovers for lunch and it tasted just as good, if not better.

step by step photos of making baked ziti in a dutch oven

How to Make One-Pot Baked Ziti in a Dutch Oven

This pasta is SUPER easy to make. Start with browning some Italian sausage. Add dried onion and minced garlic. Cook the garlic for about 30 seconds and add tomatoes, salt, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, water, and uncooked ziti pasta. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover skillet. Simmer until pasta is tender. Stir in ricotta cheese. Top the pasta with mozzarella cheese and broil until the cheese is melty.

  • I used sweet Italian sausage in this dish. You can swap it for a roll of breakfast sausage or ground beef if you prefer.
  • Make sure to use a can of good quality tomatoes. I like Red Gold Tomatoes. You can also splurge on a can of peeled whole San Marzano tomatoes and crushed them yourself. I pop the whole tomatoes in the food processor for a few seconds. YUM!
  • I used mozzarella cheese. Feel free to use any cheese you prefer – an Italian cheese blend or provolone would be delicious.
  • You can freeze the leftover pasta for a quick meal later.
dutch oven of baked ziti

What to Serve with Pasta

As I said, this pasta is FAN-FREAKING-TASIC! You just can’t beat a 100% from scratch pasta dish that is ready in under 30 minutes! This is easy enough for a weeknight, but fancy enough for company! We serve this pasta with a salad and some garlic bread. Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with this yummy pasta:

Salads

Creamy Italiano Salad

Creamy Italiano Salad with Homemade Dressing Recipe – our favorite salad!!! Romaine, tomatoes, thinly sliced seedless cucumbers, sliced banana peppers,…

Bread

Carbone’s Garlic Bread

Carbone’s Garlic Bread – the recipe for the garlic bread from the famous NYC and Las Vegas restaurant. This is…

Vegetables

Italian Green Bean Salad

Italian Green Bean Salad – quick and delicious side dish! Green beans, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, prosciutto, and mozzarella tossed…

Recipe Print Recipe
plate of baked ziti

One-Pot Baked Ziti

Author: Stephanie @ Plain Chicken
Yield: 8 people
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 35 mins
One-Pot Baked Ziti – everything cooks in the same pot, even the pasta! Italian sausage, onion, garlic, crushed tomatoes, water, ziti pasta, ricotta, heavy cream, and mozzarella cheese – 100% from scratch pasta dish that is ready in under 30 minutes! Tastes better than any restaurant. Everyone (even the kids) LOVES this recipe!! Leftovers are equally delicious reheated. #pasta #onepot #sausage #cheese #casserole

Equipment:

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb Italian sausage casings removed
  • 1 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 (28-oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 cups water
  • 12- oz ziti pasta uncooked
  • ½ cup ricotta cheese
  • ⅓ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

  • Brown Italian sausage in a Dutch Oven until browned. Drain fat.
  • Add onion flakes and garlic. Cook for 30-60 seconds, until fragrant. Stir in tomatoes, salt, red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning.
  • Add water and ziti. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover skillet. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until pasta is tender.
  • Remove skillet from heat. Stir in ricotta and heavy cream. Cook on low for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Top with mozzarella cheese. Broil until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Notes:

  • I used sweet Italian sausage in this dish. You can swap it for a roll of breakfast sausage or ground beef if you prefer.
  • Make sure to use a can of good quality tomatoes. I like Red Gold Tomatoes. You can also splurge on a can of peeled whole San Marzano tomatoes and crushed them yourself. I pop the whole tomatoes in the food processor for a few seconds. YUM!
  • I used mozzarella cheese. Feel free to use any cheese you prefer – an Italian cheese blend or provolone would be delicious.
  • You can freeze the leftover pasta for a quick meal later.
https://www.plainchicken.com/one-pot-baked-ziti-pampered-chef/

All images and text © Plain Chicken, Inc.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @plainchicken or tag #plainchicken!

Steph

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making baked ziti in dutch oven

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Comments

  2. I've got an 11" skillet oven -worthy and with a lid. Think would work OK? add more liquid for being more spread out? Your recipes are so good.

    Reply

  3. This looks great. I am a Pampered Chef consultant and am glad to have a new recipe to make in the rockcrok and to share with my customers.

    Reply

  5. Thanks for this awesome recipe. The whole family enjoyed it, including my 8 and 9 yr olds. I think next time I will try no meat and more sauce. I had to put it in the fridge for dinner later so heating up in the microwave took about 15 minutes on the 'plate' setting and then just a little bit under the broiler. I had a bit of sticking on the bottom during the boiling and simmering stages, but it did come off during the sitting stage. I thought the cleaning would be touch because it looked stuck on, but it was super easy.

    Thanks again!

    Reply

  6. Wonderful and filling! I'll try it next time minus the meat and maybe with more sauce. My two kids even enjoyed this one, they are 8 and 9. I had a bit of sticking when I was boiling and simmering, but it came off when it cooked/sat later. I had to store mine in the fridge for several hours and then heat it up in the microwave for dinner. It took about 15 min. to warm up on the plate setting and then I put it under the broiler for just a bit. The clean up was a snap!

    Thanks for the recipe!!

    Reply

  7. Love Pampered Chef and made this dish last night. My family loved it and said to definitely make it again!

    Reply

  8. I love so many of my pampered chef products but I think my favorite would be either my covered baker or my cookie scoops – love them!
    Amanda (aesolecki at gmail dot com)

    Reply

  14. I have a handheld masher from them that I love. It was perfect for mashing up foods when my kids were tranitioning from baby food to table food

    Reply

  16. I LOVE one pot meals – they make the week night cooking so much easier! Especially when the pasta is cooked in the sauce. The Rockcrock looks really interesting too!

    Reply

  23. How can I choose just one? A few of my top favorites are the citrus peelers (the orange stick-like thingies), silicone spatulas, and the batter bowls.

    Reply

  24. I love everything I have gotten from Pampered Chef, wish I could afford to buy everything they have, but I'm building up slowly.

    Reply

  32. I have my eye on that Covered Roaster (#2401) – I could really use that.
    *****************

    {in the contest I am Margot Core on the Rafflecopter}

    Reply

  33. Not sure I could choose just one, but I love their spatulas, garlic press, salad & berry spinner, can opener, and the scoop & chop.

    Reply

  35. Oh, and I forgot to say my favorite PC product – I agree with what someone said earlier that the rubber spatulas are awesome. Love that they are one piece and more durable than most store-bought ones.

    Reply

  51. That looks delicious! I'm bookmarking the recipe. Also, that seems like an amazing pan. Am going to find out more about it.

    Reply

  52. This recipe looks yummy! I just added it to my weekly menu. I LOVE Pampered Chef products! They are so durable!

    Reply

  58. It would be hard to pick a favorite, but I use my large round stone the most. I wouldn't know what to do without it!

    Reply

  60. It is hard to pick one favorite product. I think I have to go with the micro cookers. They make my frozen veggies taste like fresh. 😉

    Reply

  68. Any of my baking stoneware. LOVE them. I cried when the dog broke my bar pan by knocking it off the counter a few months ago.

    Reply

  69. I love one pot dishes. My favorite PC item is the microwave egg cooker. It sounds gross, but my kids love scrambled eggs before school, and this makes it so easy!

    Reply

  74. My favorite item is the Bamboo Knife Block Set. It's very nice. Not sure if my other comment went through because something happened to my computer.

    Reply

  79. The Bamboo Knife Block Set is very nice…and expensive! It's a huge set though, and the price is to be expected for such quantity and quality.

    Reply

  85. The only thing I have is their pizza stone, which I love, but I would love to add this to my collection!

    Reply

  89. My fave PC item…the thingy you use when you brown ground beef to make it come out nice and evenly crumbled!

    Reply

  94. My favorite products were the can opener (years old and works yet) and the Christmas cookie tubes so you can make many types/shapes of cookies.

    Reply

  98. Looks like a really useful product, AND a great first recipe to try with it if I win…..!!!!
    Thanks!!
    Valerie

    Reply

  99. I just signed up as a consultant last month, but haven't done enough sales to earn the rock crock for free. I would love to win it though!! And that recipe looks wonderful!

    Reply

  110. This may sound silly, but my favorite product I've gotten from Pampered Chef is the orange peeler. I have purchased about 10 of those things LOL.

    Linda

    Reply

  114. What an awesome dish! I wish I had one! As for a favorite Pampered Chef tool, I'd have to choose my garlic peeler and press. We cook with a lot of garlic around here, and it is so nice to be able to peel and crush the garlic without getting my hands all stinky.

    Reply

  124. Just placed a PC order, but somehow missed this! Love my stones and my Micro Cooker! Tried your Bacon Cheeseburger Soup for dinner tonight! Awesome!!

    Reply

  135. Love the pampered chef cookware, and esp anything that allows me to make a one pot dish. Even better when it is one my family will eat. Thank you . Pat

    Reply

  155. This sounds so good! And it's probably lame, but my favorite Pampered Chef products are their spatulas/scrapers that are white and all one piece so that you don't get that nasty gunk in between the rubber part and the handle. Love that!

    Reply

  166. I have both Rockcroks and they are awesome! I will give this a go! I also have an awesome recipe for Baby Mushroom and Spinach risotto done in less than 30 minutes as well as a Cheesy One Pot Vegetarian Pasta Dish! Faithful Pampered Chef devotee for 14+ years!

    Reply

  168. My pizza stone from Pampered Chef definitely gets a lot of use, I love their products!!
    Can't wait to try out this recipe. Yum!! 🙂

    Reply

  169. I used to sell PC so I am in love with most things. This week though I love the stackable cooling racks.

    Reply

  172. Even though I sell the product I would have to say my favorit so far is the new spritzer and the deep dish baker.

    Reply

  180. Thanks for the recipe! This piece sounds amazing would love to win my first piece of pampered chef 🙂 thanks so much the give away!

    Reply

  187. I love so many Pampered Chef products, it's hard to pick a favorite! I love the mandolin slicer, the baking stones, the micro-cooker, garlic press, … I have yet to find a Pampered Chef product I don't love!

    Reply

  192. I actually sold Pampered Chef for many years, and love so much it is hard to name a favorite. Of course I love the stones, but right now my favorite thing is tool that you can use to chop up cooked hamburger or any other kind of cooked meat… I don't know what the name of it is but I LOVE that thing. It chops up my ground hamburger or turkey burger into the best little pieces… Over all I love all Pampered Chef products!!

    Reply

  206. My favorite is the Rotary Grater…it got my husband to stop harassing the Olive Garden wait staff…so that's a bonus too!

    Reply

  209. I've not used Pampered Chef, but I am sure this giveaway pot would rapidly become a favorite should I be so lucky as to win 🙂

    Reply

  217. I like that tool that breaks apart ground meat. I have no idea what it's actually called, but it's great. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  220. I have never used Pampered Chef products before, but would love for all of that to change if I win this awesome piece of cookware! Awesome giveaway!

    Reply

  222. I have never tried Pamper Chef! This would be a great item to add to my cookware collection! I would use it as often as I can especially when I have company and I would give it a good home! lol

    Reply

  224. I love Pampered Chef products! There are so many of them I use regularly: egg slicer, cheese grater, pizza stone, cheese knife, mini spatulas, etc. etc. I could go on and on lol!

    Reply

  225. I love my Mom and my Aunt's pampered chef's products but I don't have any of my own. Would this be a recipe that would freeze well? And if so, how do you recommend freezing it? Thanks!

    Reply

  226. I was so excited about the new RockCrok when I saw it! My favorite product would have to be my deep dish baker. I just love that thing!

    Reply

  229. I am in need of a pan that I can use from stove to oven…. this looks like the perfect one! Can't wait to try this recipe!

    Reply

  231. I love your blog and amazing recipes. I would love to try out the new Pampered Chef Rockcrok. This is the first I have heard of it. Plain Chicken + Pampered Chef = A Match Made in Heaven

    Reply

  232. What a fantastic opportunity! I would love to own this pan. I love my spoonula and my pizza cutter.. I use something PC nearly every day! I enjoy using the scoops for making cookies.. love all the sizes.

    Reply

  237. I love their bamboo spoons. My daughter calls them Kool Aid spoons because we use the long one every time we make Kool Aid.

    Reply

  240. I love Pampered Chef! Haven't bought any recently, but have many many of their products…use their Garlic Press quite often (love it). I have the Pampered Chef Mandolin, which used to scare me…was always cutting myself, so put it away. I rediscovered it recently, and now use it like a pro=) You can't beat it for those uniform slices! I'd love to win this beautiful Rockcrok…first thing I'd make would be your Baked Ziti; sounds and looks delicious! Thank you!

    Reply

  243. Recipe looks great! My favorite Pampered Chef items are the batter bowls (with handles & lids). I use them all the time to mix and store.

    Reply

  249. I would have to say it is a tie between my stone rectangle baker and the food chopper! Both equally life changing in my kitchen!

    Reply

  259. My favorite Pampered Chef products are the Classic Batter Bowl and Can Opener. I both of these several times during the week.

    Reply

  263. Love all the Pampered Chef Products. My favorite is so hard to decided probably large mixing bowl for it diversity!

    Reply

  267. I have so many awesome Pampered Chef items that its hard to choose just one but the one I use EVERY DAY would be their kitchen shears!! LOVE THEM!

    Reply

  268. I love all of the pampered chef products, but my favorite right now is probably my large mixing bowl with a lid. I use it all the time for so many different things!

    Reply

  270. Like many above, my favorites are my stones! I too have one that is 20 years old – I can't believe it's been used that long! Use them several times a week.

    Reply

  277. I love anything Pampered Chef! Pizza stone, food chopper, food prep bowls, onion slicer, you name it. Very excited to try this recipe too, BTW 🙂

    Reply

  279. I just got a flyer in the mail yesterday for the Pampered Chef Rockcrok Everyday Pan! I was wondering how good it was! Guess I got my answer! Love all of their Stoneware!

    Reply

  281. Love Pampered Chef products!!! Haven't been to a party in years. My favorites are the baking stone & veggie chopper.

    Reply

  286. My sister in law was just telling me how fabulous this pot is. After seeing this yummy recipe (and knowing it only used one pot) I want one! 🙂

    Reply

  292. I love Pampered Chef baking stones and also wooden spoons. Truthfully it's been years that I've been to a Pampered Chef party. Went to zillions years ago and loved their products. They are the reason I became interested in cooking .

    Reply

  299. This pot looks amazing! I have a pamaperd chef baking stone and some microwave pots that I used daily, I'd love to add this to my collection!

    Reply

  301. I love my pampered chef Kitchen timer and my clear, stackable measuring cups, both the liquid and the dry. I also love my cutting boards and my utensil turnabout.

    Reply

  302. I don't own any Pampered Chef products and I honestly have no idea why! Always hear wonderful things! I've been wanting a pan that can go from stovetop to oven to brown cheese up – ya know – to make it even yummier. Love one pot dishes so much – total lifesaver on busy nights!

    Reply

  303. It's been awhile since I've purchased from Pampered Chef–there used to be home parties all the time – – not so much any more. I have some wonderful items and this would be a welcome addition. Thank you.

    Reply

  308. Fave product has to be the smooth edge can opener…..which I ordered the day DH cut his hand on a can opened with a traditional opener and had to get three stitches!!!!

    Reply

  309. I love all of my Pampered Chef products! I use my mix n chop several times a week along with the 8 cup measuring cup/bowl.

    Reply

  310. I am a huge Pampered Chef fan but had not heard of this magic pot:) I had baked ziti last night and we love it! Have a blessed day and I hope I win!

    Reply

  311. I have SO many pampered chef favorites! My most beloved are my mix and chop and my 12" non-stick pan with the lid….and the ice cream scoop…..and the tongs. I could go on forever!

    Reply

  317. What a great pot. Looks like you could use it for so many things. I use my 8 cup Pampered Chef measuring cup almost daily…Love it!

    Reply

  328. Looks yummy!! I had a Pampered Chef party when I was engaged…I still use all the cool things I got and that was over 15 years ago!!!

    Reply

  339. I love everything pampered chef. My favorites and most used obviously is the pizza stone and garlic press. Have had for 16 years and still work amazing.

    Reply

  343. This looks like an amazing dish, I would really consider replacing some of the other casserole dishes that I have with this one! Very user friendly!!!

    Reply

  344. I don't have any Pampered Chef products, but have looked longingly at the pizza stone and many of their utensils.

    Reply

  349. Too many P.C. favorites to pick just one! I use the cutting boards (love the no-slide rubber edges) every day and I adore their garlic press!

    Reply

  350. Yum! I had a Pampered Chef pizza pan that I used weekly – up until I dropped it on the tile a couple weeks ago and it completely shattered! I'm feeling the need for a Pampered Chef party soon! 🙂

    Reply

  356. I love Pampered Chef. I use their cinnamon and the chop tool for browning hamburger. I also have their glass pour and measure bowls. This pan looks so nice. Thanks for offering this give away!

    Reply

  361. I have needed something like this for a long time! I always want to make these recipes but I don't have the appropriate pan.

    Reply

  365. I don't have any products but I here so many good things I need to check them out. I'm making the ziti this week love the no boil!

    Reply

  367. I enjoy using all the cooking items I have from Pampered Chef! Would love to add to my collection. Thanks will be making the ziti very soon. Andi. Thewednesdaybaker

    Reply

  372. Love Pampered Chef and use one or another of their products almost daily. Would love to add this piece to the mix.

    Reply

  384. Your recipe sounds pretty divine, must be the cream that sends it over the top~yum! This rockacrock pot sounds amazing~I think my favorite pampered chef purchase was a baking stone, but I broke it 🙁 Anyhoo, I always love your deliciously simple recipes!
    Jenna

    Reply

  389. Thanks for the giveaway! I Love my little small spatula, its great for eggs, baked cookies and etc….
    I really want to try lots of there products.

    Donna

    Reply

  394. I'm a loyal Pampered Chef fan 🙂 I even had a PC bridal shower and it was so awesome! My favorite currently is simply the stainless steel cookware. It's taken some learning, but SS isn't as finicky as I originally thought!

    Reply

  397. I love my zester! It's a simple item, but being able to add that citrus zest to my recipes makes me happy happy happy. I also love my pizza stone 🙂

    Reply

    1. I love their knives too! One of my pampered chef customers had her knife set in her divorce papers of what she wanted to take. The judge completely understood and said, "Granted!" Lol!

      Reply

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