Baked Ziti Sausage-Free Crumbles (Printable version)
Ziti pasta baked with tomato sauce, plant-based sausage crumbles, and melted cheese for a savory, satisfying dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound ziti or penne pasta
→ Sauce
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
07 - 14 ounces tomato sauce
08 - 2 teaspoons dried Italian herbs
09 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
10 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Sausage-Free Crumbles
12 - 12 ounces plant-based sausage crumbles
→ Cheese
13 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (vegan or dairy)
14 - 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (vegan or dairy)
15 - 1 cup ricotta cheese (vegan or dairy)
→ Garnish
16 - Fresh basil leaves, for serving
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
02 - Bring salted water to a boil and cook ziti until just al dente, about 1-2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and diced red bell pepper and sauté for 2 minutes.
04 - Add plant-based sausage crumbles to the skillet and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes.
05 - Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, dried Italian herbs, basil, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, half of the mozzarella, half of the Parmesan, all of the ricotta, and half of the prepared sauce. Mix gently to combine.
07 - Spread half of the pasta mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining sauce, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
08 - Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
09 - Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- It's the comfort food hug you've been craving, but lighter and just as satisfying—no guilt, all the warmth.
- The sausage-free crumbles add a savory depth that even meat-eaters won't miss, and everyone will ask for seconds.
- It comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something that tastes like you spent all day cooking.
02 -
- Don't cook your pasta all the way through—it continues to soften in the oven, and you want it tender, not mushy. This was a hard-won lesson from my first attempt.
- The ricotta is what separates this from ordinary baked ziti. It creates pockets of creamy richness throughout, so don't skip it or try to replace it all with mozzarella.
- Taste the sauce before it goes in the dish. This is your only chance to adjust the seasoning, and it makes all the difference between good and memorable.
03 -
- Use good quality canned tomatoes—this is where you'll notice the difference most, since they're the main flavor. San Marzano varieties are worth seeking out.
- Don't skip the resting period after it comes out of the oven. Those 10 minutes let everything set up so you get clean, beautiful servings instead of a sloppy plate.