Baked Ziti with Sausage (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
16 oz ziti or penne pasta
02 -
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling
03 -
1 pound Italian sausage
04 -
32 oz marinara sauce
05 -
15 oz ricotta cheese
06 -
1 large egg
07 -
2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided
08 -
3/4 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
09 -
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
10 -
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
11 -
Dash of crushed red pepper flakes, optional
12 -
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
13 -
Chopped basil, for garnish (optional)
# Instructions:
01 -
Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
02 -
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain well using a colander, drizzle with a little olive oil, and stir to prevent sticking. Transfer the pasta into a large bowl and set aside.
03 -
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over moderate heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook while breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, about 5 to 7 minutes, until no longer pink. Discard excess fat and set aside.
04 -
In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, egg, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, basil, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using. Season with salt and pepper.
05 -
Add the ricotta mixture to the pasta. Then, add marinara sauce and cooked sausage. Gently stir to combine without breaking the pasta.
06 -
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.
07 -
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese is golden brown and the pasta is bubbly. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
08 -
Garnish with fresh basil, if desired, and serve warm.
# Notes:
01 -
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.