Baked Ziti with Sausage and Three Cheeses

Ingredients

- 12 oz ziti pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage, casing removed
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Cook Ziti Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

3. Brown the Sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Remove from heat.

4. Prepare the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the tomato sauce, fresh basil, rosemary, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and simmer over low heat for 5-7 minutes.

5. Mix Pasta and Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti, browned sausage, and sauce. Stir until well-mixed.

6. Layer the Ziti: In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread half of the ziti mixture. Dollop half of the ricotta cheese over the pasta, then sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining ziti, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.

7. Bake: Drizzle the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over the top. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.

8. Serve: Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional fresh basil if desired.

Total Time

PT55M
55 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Baked Ziti, Italian Sausage, Three Cheeses, Dinner, Pasta Recipe, Comfort Food, Easy Dinner, Family Meal, Oven-Baked, Cheesy Dish

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Approximately 3,200 total calories

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