One-Pot Baked Ziti
When comfort food calls, nothing hits the spot quite like a bubbling dish of baked ziti. This One-Pot Baked Ziti keeps all the cheesy, saucy goodness of the classic but makes it easier by cooking everything in a single pot. That means fewer dishes, less cleanup, and a whole lot of flavor.
It’s hearty, meaty, and perfectly creamy with the addition of Parmesan, mozzarella, and a splash of heavy cream. The best part? The pasta cooks right in the sauce, soaking up every bit of flavor. Weeknight-friendly, family-approved, and definitely one to keep on repeat.
Before You Get Started
- Use a deep skillet or Dutch oven so the pasta has enough room to cook evenly.
- Stir the pasta occasionally as it cooks in the sauce to keep it from sticking.
- Freshly grated Parmesan and mozzarella will give you the best melt and flavor.
What You Need To Make One-Pot Baked Ziti
Here’s everything you’ll need (exact amounts are in the recipe card below):
- Ground Italian sausage + veal
- Garlic, seasonings, and Worcestershire sauce
- Canned fire-roasted tomatoes + tomato sauce
- Dry ziti pasta
- Water, heavy cream, Parmesan, and mozzarella
How To Make One-Pot Baked Ziti
1
Brown the sausage and veal in a large pot, then drain excess grease.
2
Add garlic and seasonings, cooking for 3 minutes. Stir in fire-roasted tomatoes and tomato sauce. Let it simmer 10–15 minutes, adjusting seasoning as needed.
3
Pour in water and add the dry pasta. Cover and cook until the pasta is al dente, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
4
Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan, then top with mozzarella.
5
Cover and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I make this with just ground beef?
Yes! Ground beef works fine, just adjust the seasoning since sausage adds extra flavor.
Do I need to pre-cook the pasta?
No, the pasta cooks right in the sauce, which makes this a true one-pot dish.
Can I freeze leftovers?
Absolutely. Let it cool, store in airtight containers, and freeze up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven for best texture.
One-Pot Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 1 lb ground veal
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 15 oz can fire roasted diced tomato’s
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp worchestchire sauce
- 2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp Creole seasoning
- 1 tbsp Badia complete seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3.5 cups water
- 16 oz dry ziti
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup Parmesan
- Mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Brown meats and drain grease
- Add garlic and seasonings and cook 3 minutes. Add in tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Let simmer a 10-15 minutes. Adjust any seasonings needed
- Add in water and dry pasta. Cover and let cook until pasta is al dente. Be sure to stir to prevent sticking.
- Add in heavy cream and Parmesan. Top with mozzarella. Cover and bake on 350 for 10 minutes until
- Cheese is melted.
