Shortcut Ziti. I found a few different recipes and this was the easiest to make. I made some alterations to the original recipe, and I leave the spaghetti sauce flavour to you. I have always used jarred sauce but if you'd prefer to use homemade - by all means!

In a medium sauce pan, brown ground beef with onion (if using.) After beef is browned and crumbled, drain excess grease. Put back in pot and pour in one jar of spaghetti sauce. Spoon remaining sauce evenly over pasta layer. You can have Shortcut Ziti using 11 ingredients and 6 steps. Here is how you cook that.

Ingredients of Shortcut Ziti

You need 500 g (17.5 Oz) of bag of ziti (or rigatoni).
Prepare 650 ml of (22 0z) jar of pasta sauce.
Prepare 2 tsp of olive oil.
Prepare 2 tbsp of butter.
You need 1 pkg of Italian sausage (4-5), casings removed.
You need 2 tsp of dried basil.
It's 3 cloves of garlic, minced.
It's 8 oz of mozzarella shredded.
It's 1 cup of white wine.
You need 3 tbsp of grated parmesan cheese.
Prepare 540 ml (19 oz) of can diced tomatoes (flavoured or not, your choice).

To make Baked Ziti, ziti pasta is smothered in homemade Bolognese with Italian sausage and layered with creamy ricotta (with a secret trick), buttery mozzarella and nutty Parmesan. Each and every bite is hot, meaty, cheesy, saucy perfection. While sauce simmers, boil the pasta. Drain pasta, rinse under cool water.

Shortcut Ziti instructions

In a large, heated pan as the olive oil and Italian sausage. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking up the sausage as it cooks. It will end up in large bits.. Don't worry..
Once the sausage is almost all cooked, add the garlic and stir together for about 30 seconds. Then add the white wine and let it simmer until almost completely dry - stirring occasionally..
While working your sauce, boil a pot of water and cook the pasta as per directions. Drain pasta, return pasta to the pot it was boiled in (with out the water) You'll need the large pot for mixing..
Back to the sauce-lower the heat to medium-low, add the diced tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, butter and dried basil. Stir to combine. Heat through, maybe 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove from heat..
Add sauce to the drained pasta, and half of your shredded Mozzarella. Stir to combine. Pour into a 9x13 baking dish, top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese..
Broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Remove from broiler and enjoy!.

Taste, add salt and pepper, and adjust seasoning as needed. Dollop the ricotta on top of the pasta and top with slices of fresh mozzarella, or use shredded. Reserve one cup or enough slices of the mozzarella for the top. Lower the heat to medium and add the diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, butter, and basil. Remove the pan from the heat and add the pasta and half the mozzarella, tossing to coat.