Baked Ziti with Sour Cream
This Baked Ziti with Sour Cream is a comforting, make-ahead dish that’s perfect for any occasion. From a cozy family dinner to a fall potluck it’s a delicious pasta bake recipe layered with ziti, Italian sausage, creamy ricotta, and a tangy twist of sour cream.
I love to serve a 9×13 pasta dish for a neighborhood potluck! So be ready – everyone loves this rich, hearty Baked Ziti with Sour Cream dish that comes together so quickly. Topped with a golden layer of mozzarella and Parmesan, this easy baked ziti recipe is both indulgent and easy to prepare.
Baked Ziti with Sour Cream
The sour cream adds a nostalgic flavor that reminds us of classic stroganoff, while the fresh basil and Italian seasoning give it a burst of vibrancy. The sour cream and ricotta combined is quite lovely.
This recipe is delicious any time of year and you can easily make it ahead of time and pop it in the oven before company comes over! Serve this dish by itself or with different fall-time sides like crisp arugula salad, brussels sprouts or cheesy green beans. This dish is sure to impress!
Read more: Baked Ziti with Sour Cream
Why I love this recipe
- Make ahead (the day before guests arrive) and pop it in the oven shortly before guests arrive.
- Fabulous dish any time of year, for any season or celebration.
- Easy one-pot baked pasta dish!
Gather these ingredients
- Ziti pasta (or you can use penne)
- Olive oil
- Italian sausage
- Marinara sauce
- Sour cream
- Ricotta cheese
- Egg
- Mozzarella cheese – divided
- Parmesan cheese – divided
- Fresh basil – chopped
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes – crushed – optional
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
How to make Baked Ziti with Sour Cream
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish and grease with cooking spray.
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook pasta until al dente (usually 1-2 minutes less than recommended time). Drain well and pour into a large bowl.
- Drizzle the pasta with a little olive oil and lightly stir to keep the pasta from sticking.
- Heat the oil over medium heat in a large frying pan. Add the Italian sausage, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, and cook until it is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Discard the excess fat and set aside.
- Mix together the sour cream, ricotta cheese, egg, 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, basil, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the sour cream mixture to the pasta, scraping the bowl well. Add the marinara sauce, cooked sausage, and gently stir until combined. Stir lightly so the pasta does not break.
- Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared pan and top with the remaining 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown and the pasta is bubbly. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh basil and serve!
Tips & substitutions
- Swap the ziti pasta for penne or your favorite pasta.
- You can mix in other cheeses.
- Use fresh oregano in place of basil.
- Great dish to serve for fall or winter potluck!
- Make sure and cook the pasta al dente.
- Double up on the sour cream if you don’t have ricotta–we love the stroganoff flavor!
Serving suggestions
Baked Ziti is great by itself, but if you want to serve a full meal here are a few of our favorite side dishes to serve alongside it:
- Roasted Yam Arugula Salad
- Brussels Sprouts with Honey Mustard Glaze
- Cheesy Green Beans
- Meg’s Winter Green Salad Recipe
- Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
- Green Beans with Bacon and Onions
- Kale Salad with Apples and Walnuts
Storage
Store any leftover Ziti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, the leftovers are delicious!
Check out these other pasta dishes while you’re here
- Shrimp Scampi with Angel Hair Pasta
- Pot Roast Pasta
- Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and Shrimp
- Lemon Chicken Gnocchi
Get the Recipe:
Baked Ziti with Sour Cream
Ingredients
- 16 oz ziti pasta, or you can use penne
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling over pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 32 oz marinara sauce
- 8 oz sour cream
- 8 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Dash of crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Prepare a 9×13-baking dish with cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente (usually 1-2 minutes less than recommended time). Drain well and pour into a large bowl. Drizzle the pasta with a little olive oil and lightly stir to keep the pasta from sticking.
- Heat the oil over medium heat in a large frying pan. Add the Italian sausage, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, and cook until it is no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. Discard the excess fat and set aside.
- Mix together the sour cream, ricotta cheese, egg, 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, basil, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the sour cream mixture to the pasta, scraping the bowl well. Add the marinara sauce, cooked sausage, and gently stir until combined. Stir lightly so the pasta does not break.
- Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared pan and top with the remaining 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown and the pasta is bubbly. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
- Next, garnish with fresh basil and serve!
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
