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in Recipes

Old Fashioned Baked Ziti

Old Fashioned Baked Ziti

Hey everyone! Today I’m sharing a recipe that is literally baked in tradition! Growing up, our family tradition was to celebrate holidays at my grandparent’s house, where there was no shortage of two things: love and homemade Italian food!

I am also sharing the story of Assunta Cantisano, Ragu’s founder. She immigrated to America from Italy in 1914 with little more than her family’s pasta sauce recipe to her name. Her family’s tradition was to use only the freshest ingredients combined with flavorful herbs, resulting in a delicious pasta sauce. During the Great Depression, Assunta began selling her homemade pasta sauce as a way to help support her family. Word spread quickly about Assunta’s amazing pasta sauce, and soon after Ragu pasta sauce was born.

I am a fourth generation Italian-American. My great-grandparents immigrated from Italy to America around the same time as Assunta to make a new life for themselves. Our family traditions have been passed down through the generations, many of which were time-honored recipes that were made only from the freshest ingredients.

One of those recipes is what I based the baked ziti recipe that I’m sharing with you today! It was one of my grandmother’s favorites to bring to potlucks, and it never failed to please. I’m thrilled to make my grandmother’s recipe with Ragu pasta sauce, combining two great traditions into one fantastic dish!

Old Fashioned Baked Ziti

I’m sharing some step-by-step directions with pictures of the recipe below!

Old Fashioned Baked ZitiBring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside.

Old Fashioned Baked ZitiHeat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic, and saute for 3 minutes. Add ground Italian sausage and saute until cooked through and lightly browned. Remove from heat and let cool.

Old Fashioned Baked ZitiIn a large bowl, mix together 1 cup of ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese. Stir in Ragu Mushroom Pasta Sauce and sausage mixture.

Old Fashioned Baked ZitiPour the pasta into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to coat.

Old Fashioned Baked ZitiTo assemble the casserole, add half of the coated pasta to a baking dish, then dot the surface with ½ cup of ricotta cheese.

Old Fashioned Baked ZitiAdd the rest of the coated pasta and top with dollops of the remaining ricotta cheese, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned and bubbling around the edges.

Old Fashioned Baked ZitiRemove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with fresh chopped basil (optional) and serve.

Here’s a chance to create some new recipe traditions and win some cash!

There’s a sweepstakes contest on Food.com called Ready. Set. Cook! where you get a chance to create new recipes with Ragu pasta sauce and a set list of ingredients to win cash prizes of up to $3000! You don’t want to miss this great opportunity so be sure to check it out!

I hope you enjoyed my story of combining one of my family’s traditions with the tradition of Ragu pasta sauce to start a whole new tradition with this delicious recipe!

Ingredients
  1. 1 jar Ragu Mushroom Pasta Sauce
  2. 1 (16 oz.) package ziti pasta
  3. 2 cups (16 oz.) ricotta cheese, divided
  4. 1 pound ground Italian pork sausage
  5. 2 cups (4 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  6. ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  7. 3 tablespoons olive oil
  8. 1 large onion, chopped
  9. 4 garlic cloves, minced
  10. Fresh chopped basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
  1. 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch baking dish and set aside.
  2. 2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside.
  3. 3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic, and saute for 3 minutes. Add ground Italian sausage and saute until cooked through and lightly browned. Remove from heat and let cool.
  4. 4. In a large bowl, mix together 1 cup of ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese. Stir in Ragu Mushroom Pasta Sauce and sausage mixture. Pour the pasta into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to coat.
  5. 5. To assemble the casserole, add half of the coated pasta to a baking dish, then dot the surface with ½ cup of ricotta cheese. Add the rest of the coated pasta and top with dollops of the remaining ricotta cheese, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
  6. 6. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned and bubbling around the edges. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with fresh chopped basil (optional) and serve.

Do you have any family traditions? I’d love to hear about them! Please share them in the comments section below!

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Thank you so much for visiting my sponsor Ragu and help support The Painted Hinge! Your love and support is truly appreciated!

18 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cheryl says

    November 4, 2015 at 7:48 pm

    This looks so so good, trying this week!! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      November 4, 2015 at 9:06 pm

      You’re welcome Cheryl! Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Karin says

    November 8, 2015 at 10:06 am

    Looks wonderful. Where in the process does the cooked sausage get added? In the photos, it looks like when you mix the cheeses with the Ragu sauce. But the instructions don’t mention the sausage after you set it aside to cool. What am I missing?

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      November 8, 2015 at 10:29 am

      Hi Karin! You’re not missing anything- I forgot to add that detail to the recipe. I’ve updated the recipe to include it. Thank you so much for catching that!

      Reply
  3. Jess says

    November 9, 2015 at 10:12 am

    This sounds so delicious! 🙂

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      November 9, 2015 at 1:54 pm

      You’re welcome Jess, and thank you- always a pleasure!

      Reply
  4. Laurie says

    November 10, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    Looks totally delicious and something my family would enjoy! Pinning 🙂
    Thank you for taking the time to share your recipe with us at Brag About It!
    ~Laurie

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      November 11, 2015 at 7:48 pm

      You’re welcome Laurie! Thank you for hosting Brag About It! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Julie says

    November 12, 2015 at 6:41 am

    This looks amazing and so yummy.
    Thanks for sharing this recipe with us at Cooking & Crafting with J & J.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      November 12, 2015 at 8:53 am

      You’re welcome Julie! And as always, thank you for hosting an amazing party!

      Reply
  6. Linda Keesee says

    November 14, 2015 at 4:53 am

    This looks so good! I love ziti in fact that’s what I just ate for breakfast. Except mine was store bought. Bet your is a lot better. Pinning to try later, thanks!

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      November 14, 2015 at 11:23 am

      You’re welcome Linda; and thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Lou Lou Girls says

    November 14, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    This is perfect! Pinned and tweeted. We appreciate you taking the time to party with us! I hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm, so we get to see your fabulous new creations. The party goes until Friday at 7 pm. Happy Saturday! Lou Lou Girls

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      November 14, 2015 at 11:05 pm

      Thank you Girls! Always a pleasure!

      Reply
  8. Beverly says

    November 17, 2015 at 6:58 am

    Baked Ziti is one of my favorite pasta dishes. I love finding new recipes for it. Pinned and Tweeted. Thanks for sharing at Snickerdoodle Sunday!

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      November 17, 2015 at 9:21 am

      Thank you Beverly! 🙂

      Reply
  9. momssmallvictories says

    November 22, 2015 at 6:09 am

    I have Baked Ziti on our menu plan for this week too, the kids love it! Thanks for sharing with Small Victories Sunday Linkup last week. Pinning to our linkup board and hope you joined us again this weekend.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      November 22, 2015 at 10:05 am

      You’re very welcome, and thank you! 🙂 And thank you for hosting the link party!

      Reply

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Happy Friday! Today I joined a group of my talente Happy Friday! Today I joined a group of my talented blogger friends to bring you this month's edition of the Thrifty Style Team! The Thrifty Style Team is a group of ladies who get together once a month to bring you thrifty DIY projects and decor inspiration that won't break the bank! ⁣
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My contribution this month is 5 tips for thrifting on Facebook Marketplace! One of the tips is to buy multiples of the same type items, which is exactly what I did with these gorgeous milk glass vases! The rest of the tips are on the post on my blog - link in my profile.⁣
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Hey guys! Thank you so much for all the feedback o Hey guys! Thank you so much for all the feedback on my question on my last post about how long it takes you to get a space (like a hutch) decorated just right. Before I posted, I seriously thought that I was super slow at decorating, but came to find out that it is the norm to work on and off on a space for at least a few days to get it just right. ⁣
⁣
I've always been a big proponent when it comes to not comparing yourself to others when it comes to decorating (or anything really) because it's a great way to get yourself down, and then I go and do it to myself! 🤪 All that should matter is that you enjoy the decorating process and the end result, not comparing yourself and racing against others. Decorating our homes should never be a competition 💐⁣
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I hope you have a wonderful week! 💜⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
#farmhouse #farmhousestyle #farmhousedecor #farmhousechic ⁣#myfarmhousesunshine #farmhousefeelsgood #farmhousefanatics #springdecor #vintagehomedecor #myvintageviews #vintagestyle #countrysamplerfarmhousestyle #cottagestyle #cottagedecor #cottage #vintagefarmhouse #vintagedecor #masonjar #masonjars #blueglass
I decorated my hutch for spring using a blue glass I decorated my hutch for spring using a blue glass theme and I can't be more happy with how it turned out! It took me a week of working on and off on it to get it the way I wanted it. I find when I rush to decorate it stifles my creativity big time and I'm never happy with the results. Slow and steady always wins the race! ⁣
⁣
Do you need to take your time when decorating to get things just right like me? Or can you whip out a perfect vignette in no time flat? If you're the latter, can you share your secrets with me please? 😄⁣
⁣
More pics of my blue glass hutch on my blog - link in my profile. Have a fabulous weekend! 🤗💕⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
#farmhouse #farmhousestyle #farmhousedecor #farmhousechic #springdecor #easterdecor #masonjar #masonjars #demijohnbottle #demijohn #blueglass #glassinsulator #glassinsulators #myvintageviews #decorstealsaddict #fleamarketstyle #fleamarketdecor #farmhousefanatics #farmhousehomes #ourthriftstoredecor #homeandgarden #howwefarmhouse #farmcottagefarm #bhg #bhghome
Our almond blossom orchard is in full bloom here i Our almond blossom orchard is in full bloom here in the California Central Valley! 🌸 Truly the most beautiful time of the year here. I have something related in my stories, but only check it out if you have a sense of humor 😉🤣 #almondblossoms
Do you want to see some Valentine's Day heart wrea Do you want to see some Valentine's Day heart wreaths that will knock your socks off? Then head over to my blog (link in my profile) where I joined my talented blogger buddies to bring you 17 gorgeous heart wreath ideas for Valentine's Day! ⁣
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instagram

Happy Friday! Today I joined a group of my talente Happy Friday! Today I joined a group of my talented blogger friends to bring you this month's edition of the Thrifty Style Team! The Thrifty Style Team is a group of ladies who get together once a month to bring you thrifty DIY projects and decor inspiration that won't break the bank! ⁣
⁣
My contribution this month is 5 tips for thrifting on Facebook Marketplace! One of the tips is to buy multiples of the same type items, which is exactly what I did with these gorgeous milk glass vases! The rest of the tips are on the post on my blog - link in my profile.⁣
⁣
Have a fantastic weekend!⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
#thriftystyleteam #thrifty #thrifter ⁣
#thrifted #thrift #thrifting #thriftedstyle #thriftfinds #facebookmarketplace #neutraldecor #ontheblog #linkinprofile #milkglass #vases #milkglassvases #farmhouse #farmhousediningroom #farmhouseinspired #farmhousestyle #fixerupper #farmhousechic #interiorinspo #vintagefarmhouse #cottagestyle #cottagedecor #cottagecharm #fleamarketstyle #interiorwarrior #mybhg #farmhouseliving
Wishing you a Happy Easter and bright new beginnin Wishing you a Happy Easter and bright new beginnings!.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
#newbeginnings #freshstart #Easter #easterdecor #farmhouseeaster #milkglass #farmhouse #farmhousestyle #farmhousedecor #farmhouseinspired #farmhouseliving #farmhousechic
Hey guys! Thank you so much for all the feedback o Hey guys! Thank you so much for all the feedback on my question on my last post about how long it takes you to get a space (like a hutch) decorated just right. Before I posted, I seriously thought that I was super slow at decorating, but came to find out that it is the norm to work on and off on a space for at least a few days to get it just right. ⁣
⁣
I've always been a big proponent when it comes to not comparing yourself to others when it comes to decorating (or anything really) because it's a great way to get yourself down, and then I go and do it to myself! 🤪 All that should matter is that you enjoy the decorating process and the end result, not comparing yourself and racing against others. Decorating our homes should never be a competition 💐⁣
⁣
I hope you have a wonderful week! 💜⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
#farmhouse #farmhousestyle #farmhousedecor #farmhousechic ⁣#myfarmhousesunshine #farmhousefeelsgood #farmhousefanatics #springdecor #vintagehomedecor #myvintageviews #vintagestyle #countrysamplerfarmhousestyle #cottagestyle #cottagedecor #cottage #vintagefarmhouse #vintagedecor #masonjar #masonjars #blueglass
I decorated my hutch for spring using a blue glass I decorated my hutch for spring using a blue glass theme and I can't be more happy with how it turned out! It took me a week of working on and off on it to get it the way I wanted it. I find when I rush to decorate it stifles my creativity big time and I'm never happy with the results. Slow and steady always wins the race! ⁣
⁣
Do you need to take your time when decorating to get things just right like me? Or can you whip out a perfect vignette in no time flat? If you're the latter, can you share your secrets with me please? 😄⁣
⁣
More pics of my blue glass hutch on my blog - link in my profile. Have a fabulous weekend! 🤗💕⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
#farmhouse #farmhousestyle #farmhousedecor #farmhousechic #springdecor #easterdecor #masonjar #masonjars #demijohnbottle #demijohn #blueglass #glassinsulator #glassinsulators #myvintageviews #decorstealsaddict #fleamarketstyle #fleamarketdecor #farmhousefanatics #farmhousehomes #ourthriftstoredecor #homeandgarden #howwefarmhouse #farmcottagefarm #bhg #bhghome
Our almond blossom orchard is in full bloom here i Our almond blossom orchard is in full bloom here in the California Central Valley! 🌸 Truly the most beautiful time of the year here. I have something related in my stories, but only check it out if you have a sense of humor 😉🤣 #almondblossoms
Do you want to see some Valentine's Day heart wrea Do you want to see some Valentine's Day heart wreaths that will knock your socks off? Then head over to my blog (link in my profile) where I joined my talented blogger buddies to bring you 17 gorgeous heart wreath ideas for Valentine's Day! ⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
#farmhouse #farmhousestyle #farmhousedecor #hearts #heart ⁣
#valentines #valentinesday #farmhousevalentines #heartwreath #wreath #wreaths #tickingstripe
I'm putting some finishing touches on the Christma I'm putting some finishing touches on the Christmas decor for our Christmas Eve celebration. It's a small celebration because of Covid (my mom, my hubs and me) but I still want it to be festive.⁣
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From our home to yours, have the very best Christmas! 🎄❤💚⁣
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#christmasdecorations  #christmasdecor #farmhouse #farmhousestyle #farmhousedecor #farmhousechic #farmhousehomes #cozychristmas #vintagechristmas #homedecor #cozyfarmhouse
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