Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound uncooked ziti or penne pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- For serving: chopped fresh parsley and/or basil (optional)
Instructions
- Boil ziti in salted water for 2-3 minutes less than package directions, then drain.
- In a skillet, cook Italian sausage and onion over medium heat until browned.
- Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes; cook until fragrant.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and white sugar; heat through.
- Mix cooked pasta with the sauce in the skillet.
- In a casserole dish, layer half the pasta, dollops of ricotta, rest of the pasta, and top with Parmesan and mozzarella.
- Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes; broil briefly for a golden crust.
Notes
Use a mix of cheeses for added flavor.
Allow baked ziti to rest for 10 minutes before serving for easier slicing.
Dish can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 80