Baked Ziti (Print)
Delight in ziti with savory sausage, a creamy sauce, and gooey cheese. A filling, crowd-pleasing meal for any night.
# Ingredients:
01 -
1 lb dry penne or ziti pasta, uncooked.
02 -
1 lb of Italian-style sausage.
03 -
1 onion, diced.
04 -
4-5 minced garlic cloves.
05 -
1/2 teaspoon of Italian herb mix.
06 -
1/4 teaspoon optional red pepper flakes for heat.
07 -
1 large (28 oz) crushed tomato can.
08 -
1 cup of thick heavy cream.
09 -
1/2 teaspoon regular salt.
10 -
Add pepper as much as you like.
11 -
1 teaspoon granulated sugar.
12 -
8 ounces plain ricotta cheese.
13 -
1 cup parmesan cheese, grated.
14 -
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese.
15 -
Optional: basil or parsley leaves for decoration.
# Steps:
01 -
Set your oven to 375°F and let it heat up.
02 -
Boil pasta in salted water, cooking it 2-3 minutes less than the package says. Drain and leave aside.
03 -
Brown the Italian sausage and diced onions together in a pot.
04 -
Toss in the minced garlic, herb mix, and red chili flakes (if you want) to the sausage, cooking for another minute.
05 -
Mix in the crushed tomatoes, cream, salt, sugar, and some pepper. Heat until hot, about 5 minutes.
06 -
Add drained pasta to the sauce bowl and stir to coat each piece well.
07 -
Pour half of the pasta mix into a casserole pan (9x13 size).
08 -
Spread spoonfuls of the ricotta cheese to form a middle layer over the pasta.
09 -
Lay the rest of the pasta mix on top without stirring it into the ricotta.
10 -
Sprinkle some parmesan and mozzarella generously all over the top layer.
11 -
Let it bake uncovered for 20 minutes, then broil to get the cheese brown and bubbly.
12 -
Optionally, add a sprinkle of parsley or basil before serving.
# Notes:
01 -
If you like it spicy, throw in those red pepper flakes.
02 -
Pair it with garlic bread or a fresh salad for a full meal.
03 -
Switch out the sausage for ground turkey or beef if you'd rather.