Second Chances Girl - a Miami family and lifestyle blog!: Sausage & Pepperoni Baked Ziti: A New Family Favorite

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Sausage & Pepperoni Baked Ziti: A New Family Favorite

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FamilyFavorites #CollectiveBias

I was stuck in a cooking rut. I needed something new, a fresh twist on a classic, something to feed a crowd, something that I could add to my "Family Favorites" category in my recipe book. I wanted an Italian-type dish with a yummy sauce and full of flavor.

Sausage & Pepperoni baked Ziti : A New Family Favorite! Perfect kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dish! #FamilyFavorites #shop

Then it popped into my head, baked Ziti! My family loves baked Ziti but I didn't want to make a regular cheesy one. I wanted to add a fun twist. I know Adrian likes pizza and JC likes Italian sausage and I figured they go together since one can order a sausage and pepperoni pizza, so BOOM, my new recipe was born: Sausage & Pepperoni Baked Ziti!!

While I was grocery shopping at Walmart, last week, I picked up the ingredients for my revamped Ziti. 
Heinz Classico Family Favorites available at Walmart! #FamilyFavorites #shop

I picked up my favorite jarred pasta sauce, Heinz Classico, in the Traditional flavor. Heinz Classico has a new look and comes in Traditional, Meat Sauce and Parmesan & Romano flavors. COUPON ALERT:Click here to save $1 off Classico favorites when you buy two jars!  

NEW Heinz Classico Family Favorites Pasta Sauce Traditional flavor  #FlavorFavorites #shop

I made this Baked Ziti last night. I made sure to take lots of pictures so you can follow step by step! Here's the recipe:

Sausage & Pepperoni Baked Ziti

Serves: 8
Cook & Prep Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:
1 box ziti
1 lb Italian Sausage
1 3.5oz package of sliced pepperoni
2 tbsp extra virgen olive oil
1 large yellow onion
1 head garlic
2 jars Heinz Classico family Favorites Sauce (your choice of flavor, I used Traditional)
1 large egg
1 tbsp Italian seasoning blend
16 oz cottage cheese 
16 oz ricotta cheese
1 8oz package shredded Italian Cheese Blend

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Heat a large pot of water over high heat to boiling. 

In a large pan, add olive oil, onions and garlic over medium-high heat. Cook until onions are tender, about 2 minutes. Add sausage and brown. Meanwhile, dice 3/4 of pepperoni slices (reserve about 3 slices). 

Sausage & Pepperoni baked Ziti : A New Family Favorite! Perfect kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dish! #FamilyFavorites #shop

Once water is boiling, add salt and oil (as desired) and add pasta. (See those cute, chubby kid hands? Yep, Adrian helped out!!). Cook pasta al dente.

Sausage & Pepperoni baked Ziti : A New Family Favorite! Perfect kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dish! #FamilyFavorites #shop

While pasta and meat mixture are cooking, add 1 jar of Heinz Classico sauce to bottom of 9 x 13 baking pan. When I make pastas, I like to use a nice, heavy, sturdy pan. This pan has been passed down two generations in my family already! Talk about a family favorite! 

Sausage & Pepperoni baked Ziti : A New Family Favorite! Perfect kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dish! #FamilyFavorites #shop

In a medium bowl, beat egg. Add ricotta cheese and Italian seasonings and mix well. Add these cheese mixture to your sauce. Then add all your cottage cheese. Mix cheese and sauce. Don't worry if the cheese clumps together, it will all even out at the end. 

Sausage & Pepperoni baked Ziti : A New Family Favorite! Perfect kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dish! #FamilyFavorites #shop

Add meat mixture into the pan. When I make baked ziti, I like to mix everything in the one pan. It's easier for me this way and there are less dirty dishes!

Sausage & Pepperoni baked Ziti : A New Family Favorite! Perfect kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dish! #FamilyFavorites #shop

Drain pasta and add the hot pasta to the baking dish. The hot pasta will start melting the cheeses immediately. 

Sausage & Pepperoni baked Ziti : A New Family Favorite! Perfect kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dish! #FamilyFavorites #shop

Add the other jar of Heinz Classico sauce on top of the pasta. Now get in there with a spoon and start mixing everything together. Make sure every noodle is coated.

Sausage & Pepperoni baked Ziti : A New Family Favorite! Perfect kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dish! #FamilyFavorites #shop

Once it's all mixed together, top with shredded cheese and sliced pepperoni. 

Sausage & Pepperoni baked Ziti : A New Family Favorite! Perfect kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dish! #FamilyFavorites #shop

Pop in the oven uncovered and cook for about 30 minutes or until bubbly. Remove from oven and let stand about 10 minutes before serving. It will be HOT!!!

Sausage & Pepperoni baked Ziti : A New Family Favorite! Perfect kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dish! #FamilyFavorites #shop

My family was ecstatic. They scarfed down their first serving and all went back for seconds. I love serving a nice hearty meal to a group and watching them enjoy each other's company along with a yummy dish!

Sausage & Pepperoni baked Ziti : A New Family Favorite! Perfect kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dish! #FamilyFavorites #shop

Adrian cleaned his plate. This was a miracle, as he rarely eats his dinner. "Mami, this was the best food you ever made!" 

Sausage & Pepperoni baked Ziti : A New Family Favorite! Perfect kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dish! #FamilyFavorites #shop

I'm super excited this recipe turned out well. I will definitely be making it more often!

Do you like Baked Ziti? Do you like it just cheese or do you add meat and veggies?

3 comments:

  1. Looks amazing! I love baked ziti usually my go to dish for parties but never tried adding pepperoni! Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I LOVE ziti in any form or fashion, so this dish is right up my alley. :) The addition of pepperoni and sausage is genius, if you ask me!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I haven't had lunch yet so this is killing me here.
    My dad taught me about the wonders of having both pepperoni AND sausage! Why choose?
    Looks awesome as I need lots of protein with my dinners.

    ReplyDelete

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