The Best Baked Ziti (Postpartum Ziti) is a delicious and hearty dish, perfect for large gatherings or for bringing to new parents. This ziti is loaded with Italian sausage marinara, cottage cheese, fresh basil, and three types of cheese—mozzarella in chunks instead of grated for a delightful cheesy melt. It’s called “Postpartum Ziti” because it makes a huge batch, perfect for families who need a filling and easy-to-reheat meal.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 pound ziti (or penne/rigatoni if ziti is unavailable)

• Olive oil

• 1 pound mild Italian sausage

• 5 garlic cloves, smashed and minced

• 2 teaspoons dried oregano

• 1 teaspoon dried basil

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 (28-ounce) can tomato sauce

• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped

• 1 cup heavy cream, cold

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

• 1 pound cottage cheese

• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, chopped into 1/4-inch cubes

For topping:

• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, chopped into 1/4-inch cubes

• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

• More fresh chopped basil for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray.

2. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti (or penne/rigatoni) until just shy of al dente (5–7 minutes). Drain and toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.

3. Prepare the sauce: In a large skillet, cook Italian sausage over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain the fat, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in oregano, basil, salt, pepper, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and sugar. Simmer for about 10 minutes, then stir in fresh basil.

4. Thicken the cream: In the pot you used for pasta, combine heavy cream and cornstarch. Whisk over medium heat until thickened, about 3-4 minutes.

5. Cottage cheese mixture: In a bowl, mix beaten eggs, cottage cheese, Parmesan, and mozzarella cubes. Once the cream has thickened, stir in the cottage cheese mixture.

6. Assemble: Add the drained pasta to the cream and cottage cheese mixture, then transfer it all into the prepared casserole dish. Pour the remaining red sauce on top and sprinkle with more mozzarella and Parmesan.

7. Bake: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 25 minutes until bubbly. Broil for 1-2 minutes if you want the top cheese extra brown.

8. Serve: Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped basil.

Nutrients

• Calories: 519 kcal per serving

• Carbohydrates: 37g

• Protein: 26g

• Fat: 30g

  • Saturated Fat: 14g

• Cholesterol: 113mg

• Fiber: 3g

• Sugar: 6g

Why The Best Baked Ziti Works So Well

The beauty of this Baked Ziti lies in its comforting, cheesy layers and balanced flavors. The combination of ziti pasta, Italian sausage, and a rich marinara sauce forms a hearty and satisfying base. The addition of cottage cheese and heavy cream makes the filling creamy and indulgent, while the three types of cheese—Parmesan, mozzarella, and cottage cheese—create a rich, melt-in-your-mouth experience. The fresh basil adds a touch of brightness and herbaceous flavor, making every bite a perfect balance of savory and fresh.

The “Postpartum Ziti” moniker is not just a fun name, it’s also a practical one. The large batch size makes it easy to feed a crowd, and it’s a meal that can be enjoyed for several days, making it a great option for busy times, especially for new parents who need a simple yet satisfying meal.

The Pasta: Perfectly Al Dente

Ziti is the traditional pasta used in this dish, but penne or rigatoni can be used as substitutes if ziti isn’t available. The key is to cook the pasta until it’s just shy of al dente—around 5-7 minutes. This ensures that the pasta doesn’t overcook in the oven and keeps its shape and texture. The pasta is then tossed with a little olive oil to prevent it from sticking together while you prepare the rest of the dish.

The slightly undercooked pasta will continue to cook and absorb the sauce in the oven, ensuring that each bite of ziti is perfectly tender, yet still maintains its integrity within the cheesy sauce.

The Sausage Marinara Sauce: Rich and Flavorful

The marinara sauce in this recipe is made from a combination of Italian sausage, garlic, oregano, basil, and tomatoes. Cooking the sausage until browned and crumbly infuses the sauce with savory depth. The addition of garlic brings a fragrant, aromatic layer to the sauce, while the oregano and basil contribute warm, Italian flavors that tie everything together.

Using both tomato sauce and diced tomatoes gives the sauce a nice balance of smoothness and texture, while the teaspoon of sugar helps to cut the acidity from the tomatoes, creating a rich, well-rounded sauce that complements the pasta and cheese. Stirring in fresh basil at the end adds a burst of freshness and brightness that elevates the dish.

The Creamy Cottage Cheese Mixture: Velvety and Rich

One of the standout features of this Baked Ziti is the creamy cottage cheese mixture. The cottage cheese, along with heavy cream and cornstarch, creates a rich and creamy filling that adds texture and depth to the casserole. The heavy cream is thickened with cornstarch, giving it a velvety consistency that melds beautifully with the cheese. Mixing this with beaten eggs and the cubes of mozzarella ensures that the filling holds together while baking and adds a rich, cheesy interior.

This creamy layer not only makes the dish indulgent but also provides a nice contrast to the tangy, savory marinara sauce. It’s this balance of creamy and savory elements that makes this Baked Ziti truly special.

Assembling the Baked Ziti: Layered to Perfection

Assembling this dish is straightforward, and the process involves layering the components in a casserole dish. First, the cooked pasta is mixed with the creamy cottage cheese mixture, which will act as the base layer. Then, the marinara sauce is poured on top, followed by a generous sprinkle of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. The layers of pasta, creamy filling, and sauce come together to create a satisfying, rich, and cheesy dish.

The addition of mozzarella cubes (instead of grated mozzarella) ensures that the cheese melts into gooey pockets throughout the dish, creating delightful cheesy bites. The Parmesan adds a salty, nutty flavor to balance out the richness of the mozzarella and cottage cheese.

Baking the Ziti: Golden and Bubbling

Baking the ziti in the oven at 375°F (190°C) allows all the flavors to meld together and the cheese to melt into a golden, bubbly top. Covering the dish with foil for the first 25 minutes ensures that the pasta and filling heat through evenly, while the final 25 minutes uncovered allows the cheese to brown and bubble, creating a delicious, golden crust.

If you prefer an extra-crispy top, you can broil the ziti for 1-2 minutes at the end of the baking time, giving the cheese a golden-brown finish and adding an extra layer of flavor and texture to the dish.

Serving and Garnishing

Once the Baked Ziti has cooled slightly, it’s time to serve. The casserole can be garnished with freshly chopped basil for an extra burst of color and flavor. This dish is best enjoyed warm, but it also makes excellent leftovers that can be reheated for an easy and comforting meal.

Serve the ziti with a side of garlic bread or a simple green salad to add freshness and balance to the richness of the dish.

Nutritional Breakdown

Each serving of The Best Baked Ziti contains approximately 519 calories, which makes it a hearty meal on its own. The dish is packed with 26g of protein, thanks to the sausage and cheese. The 30g of fat, including 14g of saturated fat, comes from the cheese and heavy cream, providing richness and flavor.

The 37g of carbohydrates are primarily from the pasta, and the 3g of fiber comes from the tomatoes and pasta. With only 6g of sugar, the dish remains savory, and the sodium content is around 650mg per serving, which is moderate for a baked dish of this nature.

Conclusion: Comforting and Hearty

In conclusion, The Best Baked Ziti (Postpartum Ziti) is a comforting, hearty dish that combines pasta, sausage marinara, creamy cheese filling, and melty mozzarella into one mouthwatering casserole. It’s perfect for large gatherings, making it easy to feed a crowd or prepare a meal for new parents. With its rich flavors, cheesy filling, and satisfying texture, this baked ziti is sure to become a go-to recipe for family meals or when you want to impress your guests. Whether you’re serving it for a special occasion or as a weeknight dinner, this ziti is guaranteed to please everyone at the table.