Baked Ziti with Pumpkin & Sausage will be a new go to pasta recipe. Are you looking for a rich, hearty, and easy baked ziti recipe that will please even the pickiest eaters? This baked ziti with sausage and pumpkin recipe is sure to become a new family favorite!
The creamy pumpkin sauce is perfect for fall, and the sausage adds a delicious richness that everyone will love. Best of all, this dish freezes great! Give it a try tonight.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
What Is Baked Ziti?
Baked ziti is a popular Italian-American dish made with pasta, sauce and cheese. There are many variations of this dish, but the most common ingredients are ziti noodles, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
Baked ziti can be prepared in a variety of ways, including baking it in the oven or stovetop. It is usually served as an entrée, but can also be made into a side dish. This cheesy pasta dish is sure to please any appetite!
Why you will like this ziti recipe
This recipe adds some delicious fall flavor to the classic dish with pumpkin and sausage. It's easy to make and perfect for a family dinner. The warming spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves used in this dish compliment the pumpkin and sausage to perfection.
If you are a pasta lover, be sure to also try out Creamy Baked Gnocchi with Italian Sausage & Spinach, it is divine also!
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Ingredients
- Box of Rigatoni, Ziti, Penne, or Mostaccioli Pasta
- olive oil
- Italian sausage, links or bulk
- onion
- garlic
- white wine
- beef stock
- dry mustard
- cream
- whole cloves
- nutmeg
- cinnamon
- sage
- salt
- ground pepper
- Rigatoni or Ziti pasta
- fresh mozzarella
- grated Parmesan cheese
- toasted sunflower seeds
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to make Baked Ziti
This recipe adds some delicious fall flavors to the classic baked ziti dish with pumpkin and sausage. It's easy to make and perfect for a family dinner. The warming spices used in this dish compliment the pumpkin and sausage to perfection.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
For the sausage
Remove the outer casings from the sweet Italian sausage. Crumble and brown before adding the pumpkin, seasonings, and cream.
1. Brown the sausage in a large skillet or dutch oven.
2. Add the chopped onions and mixed garlic.
For the sauce
3. Add in the pumpkin and the rest of the seasoning, mix in well until bubbling.
4. Lower the heat. Add in the cream. Stir, adjust for seasonings.
Putting it all together
5. Mix the pasta sauce and the al dente pasta. Toss in the mozzarella pearls.
6. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes.
Once you remove it from the oven, sprinkle some toasted sunflower seeds on top and serve. Serving suggestions are a side vegetable or a salad.
Equipment
- Any oven safe baking dish can be used.
- A colander for draining the cooked pasta.
- Large skillet for browning sausage.
Food Safety
We sometimes take for a granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience, that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Top Tips for success
- You can use a dutch oven to brown up the sausage and then add the sauce, and save cleaning up a separate skillet.
- We used canned pumpkin, however, any fresh winter squash or pumpkin will be great also.
Frequently asked questions
The primary physical difference between Ziti and Rigatoni is the texture and cut. Rigatoni is always ridged, but with square-cut ends similar to ziti.
Baked Ziti freezes well. When ready to reheat, set it in the refrigerator overnight to defrost, or on the counter for several hours. Cover for all but the last 15 minutes of reheating at 300 degrees F. Taking the cover off will let the top get toasty again.
We used sweet Italian sausage links and removed the casings, but you can also buy any bulk or chub sausage. 5 links was about 1 ¼ lb or sausage.
You can use chicken sausage, turkey sausage, or venison sausage if you are lucky and can obtain it.
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📖 Recipe
Baked Ziti with Sausage & Pumpkin
Equipment
- Crock-Pot Artisan Round Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 7-Quart, Sapphire Blue
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoon olive oil
- 5 sweet Italian sausage links
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ⅔ cup dry white wine
- 15 oz can of pumpkin puree
- 1 ½ cups beef or vegetable broth
- 1 Tablespoon dry mustard powder
- 1 ½ cup heavy cream
- 9 whole cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¾ teaspoon Saigon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons rubbed or ground sage
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 ball of fresh mozzarella pearls separated
- 1 cup shaved or shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Remove casings from the link sausages.
- Add the olive oil to a frying pan or dutch oven kettle and add the sausage. Break apart into small chunks until lightly browned
- Add the onion and minced garlic, salt, pepper, and spices and cook 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add the pumpkin puree and stock. Simmer about 15 minutes. Add the cream and blend in.
- While sauce is simmering, prepare a 1 pound box of ziti, penne, or rigatoni pasta al dente, according to the package instructions.
- Add the pasta to the hot pumpkin sauce and mix well. Mix in the fresh mini mozzarella pearls, sprinkle with shaved parmesan cheese, toasted sunflower seed, and a few fresh sage leaves.
- Bake in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes. It should be bubbly and edges a little toasty and brown.
Notes
- 2 cups of any firm yellow winter squash can be used instead of canned pumpkin puree.
- Be sure to add the spices during the sausage sautee step. The sautee activates the release of aroma from the spices.
- The dry wine helps add enough acidity to balance the natural sweetness in the pumpkin. Cooking sherry will also work.
Nutrition
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