Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Overhead shot of baked ziti with wooden serving spoon

Baked Ziti With Eggplant and Chicken Sausage


  • Author: Eric Jones
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Baked Ziti with Roasted Eggplant & Apple Chicken Sausage combines penne pasta with tomato sauce, apple chicken sausage, and roasted eggplant.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 16 oz. Barilla Penne Pasta
  • 24 oz. Apple Chicken Sausage
  • 16 oz. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1/2 cup Yellow Onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp. Oregano
  • 1 tsp. Black Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. Ground Thyme
  • 1/2 tsp. Tarragon
  • 1/2 tsp. Himalayan Salt

For the Eggplant:

  • 1 Whole Eggplant
  • 1/2 tsp. Himalayan Salt
  • 1/2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
  • 1/8 cup Olive Oil

For the Tomato Sauce:

  • 28 oz. Crushed Tomatoes
  • 15 oz. Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes (paid link)
  • 1/3 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 tbsp. Minced Garlic
  • 1 tsp. Black Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp. Himalayan Salt

Instructions

  1. Cut eggplant into medium-sized cubes. Place the eggplant onto a baking dish and sprinkle with eggplant seasonings then toss with olive oil. Bake them for 25 minutes at 400 degrees.
  2. Add crushed tomatoes and fire-roasted crushed tomatoes (paid link) to a cooking pot on low heat. Add all sauce ingredients into the pot. Stir and cook for 10 minutes.
  3. Cut your onion into small pieces. Slice the apple chicken sausage. Saute them both together on medium heat until the onions are translucent and the sausage is slightly browned.
  4. Cook your pasta as instructed then drain.
  5. Add cooked pasta to a large bowl and add tomato sauce, roasted eggplant, chicken sausage & onions, and 1/2 (8 oz.) of Mozzarella cheese. Fold until well blended.
  6. Pour half of the pasta mixture into a baking dish, sprinkle add 1/2 cup parmesan cheese over this layer, then layer with the remaining pasta mixture. 
  7. Top pasta with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 55 minutes
  • Category: Pasta
  • Method: Oven Baked
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Calories: 658
  • Sugar: 9.2g
  • Sodium: 1752mg
  • Fat: 27.7g
  • Carbohydrates: 57.2g
  • Fiber: 6.1g
  • Protein: 45g
  • Cholesterol: 153mg

Keywords: Baked Ziti With Eggplant and Chicken Sausage, Baked Ziti, baked pasta