Recipe: Appetizing Sweet Italian Sausage Vegetable Ziti

Sweet Italian Sausage Vegetable Ziti. Baked Ziti with Sweet Italian Sausage is a dinner the whole family will love! This flavorful dish can be made ahead of time and is great for sharing with guests and taking to those in need. This flavorful dish can be made ahead of time and is great for sharing with guests and taking to those in need.

Due to product availability, I made some small swaps that didn't impact the outcome. For the sausage, I browned sweet Italian chicken sausage in the casing, and cut them into small pieces for the casserole. Combine pasta, cooked vegetables, and marinara sauce in a large bowl; gently stir to combine. You can have Sweet Italian Sausage Vegetable Ziti using 19 ingredients and 8 steps. Here is how you achieve that.

Ingredients of Sweet Italian Sausage Vegetable Ziti

1. You need 4 quarts of water.
2. Prepare 1 tablespoon of salt.
3. You need 12 ounces of ziti pasta.
4. You need 2 ounces of olive oil.
5. You need 8 ounces of sweet Italian turkey sausage link -- remove from the skin (pork works great too).
6. You need 5 cloves of garlic -- chopped.
7. It's 1 of small Vidalia onion -- julienne.
8. Prepare 1/2 teaspoon of fennel seed.
9. You need 1/2 teaspoon of oregano.
10. It's 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper.
11. It's 1 of small jalapeno (if you like it spicy leave the seeds in) -- finely chopped.
12. Prepare 1 of medium red bell pepper -- julienned.
13. You need 3 ounces of button mushroom -- quartered.
14. You need 14 1/2 ounces of petite diced tomatoes.
15. Prepare 2 ounces of tomato paste.
16. It's 8 ounces of heavy cream.
17. Prepare as needed of salt.
18. You need 8 leaves of basil -- chiffonade cut (fine ribbon).
19. It's of as desired Parmesan cheese.

It's loaded with fresh cherry tomatoes, corn and broccoli, and the Italian sausage (hot or sweet) adds flavor and heft. Whatever you do, don't feel wed to the recipe. This easy Baked Ziti recipe includes sausage and tons of cheese! It's perfect for feeding a crowd and can easily be prepared ahead of time.

Sweet Italian Sausage Vegetable Ziti instructions

1. Bring the water to a boil with the salt. Cook the pasta per the box directions. Drain and place in a covered bowl..
2. In a large sauce pot break up the sausage and saute the sausage with the olive oil until lightly browned about 4 minutes over a moderately high heat.
3. Add the garlic and the onions and cook for 2 minutes..
4. Add the fennel seed, oregano and black pepper..
5. Add the jalapenos and the red bell peppers and cook for 2 minutes..
6. Add the diced tomatoes with juice the tomato paste and heavy cream and simmer for 10 minutes..
7. Adjust the seasoning with salt as needed Add the cut basil and add just before service..
8. Toss with the pasta and serve..

Omit the sausage for a fantastic vegetarian meal. This is, hands down, the BEST baked ziti recipe and it's guaranteed to become a staple at your family dinners! [Recipe video included below.] This Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage is pure comfort food in our house. Truth be told, you don't really need a recipe for Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage. It's kind of a dump-and-bake recipe. Then again, maybe some of you out there were like me and didn't have the foggiest idea how to make baked ziti with Italian sausage.