Olive Garden Neapolitan Ziti
Bring back this Olive Garden classic with perfectly cooked ziti pasta, Italian sausage, and bell peppers in a rich San Marzano tomato sauce!
Servings 8
Calories 646kcal
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds Italian sausage
- 1 1/3 cups chopped green bell pepper
- 6 tablespoons olive oil divided use
- 28 ounces canned Italian-style or plum tomatoes
- 10 3/4 ounces tomato puree
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 cup fresh basil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3/4 pound ziti pasta prepared according to the package directions
- 5 cups marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bake or pan-fry the sausages until fully cooked; drain and cool. Halve the sausages lengthwise and cut them into 1/2-inch slices.
- In a skillet over medium heat, sauté the bell peppers in 2 tablespoons olive oil until they are no longer crisp, but not yet soft.
- In a heavy saucepan, combine the tomatoes, tomato puree, garlic, 4 tablespoons of olive oil, and fresh basil and bring to a light simmer over medium heat. Add the sautéed peppers and cooked sausage and let simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Serve the pasta topped with the sausage, peppers, and marinara sauce and garnish each plate with parsley and Parmesan.
Recipe Tips
3 Pro Tips 🌟
- 🍅 Tomato technique! Crush tomatoes by hand rather than blending for the perfect chunky texture that makes this sauce special.
- 🌿 Basil boost! Tear basil leaves rather than chopping to release more oils and flavor into your sauce.
- 🍝 Pasta pro move! Reserve ½ cup of pasta cooking water before draining to help the sauce cling to the pasta if needed.
Nutrition
Calories: 646kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 1619mg | Potassium: 1328mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 1350IU | Vitamin C: 47.3mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 5.3mg
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