Italian & Pasta

Baked Ziti with Sausage

Name: Baked Ziti with Sausage
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 lb ziti or rigatoni; 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed; 1 medium onion, diced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 28 oz crushed tomatoes; 15 oz whole-milk ricotta; 2 cups shredded mozzarella; 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated; 1 egg; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes; Salt and pepper to taste; Fresh basil to serve

⏱ 1 hr👤 Serves 8

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook pasta in well-salted water 3 minutes less than package directions — it will finish in the oven. Drain and set aside.
Brown sausage in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up. Add onion and cook until soft, then garlic for another minute. Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Simmer 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, half the mozzarella, and half the Parmigiano. Season with salt.
Combine pasta with the meat sauce. Spread half in a 9x13 baking dish. Dollop ricotta mixture over it, then top with remaining pasta. Scatter remaining mozzarella and Parmigiano on top.
Bake covered with foil for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake another 15 until bubbly and golden. Rest 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

This is the perfect make-ahead dish — assemble the day before, refrigerate, and bake when needed. Add 10 minutes to covered baking time if coming straight from the fridge.

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