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Baked Ziti with Sausage

Baked Ziti with Sausage

Description

This cheesy, saucy Baked Ziti with Sausage is what Sunday dinner dreams are made of – one bite and you’ll be transported straight to your Italian grandmother’s kitchen (even if you never had one).

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ziti pasta
  • 1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or hot, casings removed)
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3–4 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 2 cans (28 oz each) crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • 2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divide
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped (plus more for garnish)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and toss with a drizzle of olive oil. Set aside.
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add Italian sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes.
  4. Add onion to the sausage and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, dried herbs, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
  6. In a large bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, ¼ cup Parmesan, egg, and fresh basil. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  7. Spread 1 cup of sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Add cooked ziti to the cheese mixture and gently combine.
  8. Transfer half the pasta-cheese mixture to the baking dish. Top with half the remaining sauce. Add the rest of the pasta-cheese mixture, then the remaining sauce.
  9. Sprinkle the top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella and ¼ cup Parmesan.
  10. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
  11. Let rest for 15 minutes before garnishing with fresh basil and serving.

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Find it online: https://cookingcircuit.com/baked-ziti-with-sausage/