Baked Ziti (Print Version)

Ingredients:

01 - 1 lb ziti pasta (or penne).
02 - 1 lb Italian sausage.
03 - 1 medium onion, chopped.
04 - 4-5 garlic cloves, minced.
05 - ½ tsp Italian seasoning.
06 - ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional).
07 - 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes.
08 - 1 cup heavy cream.
09 - ½ tsp salt.
10 - Pepper to taste.
11 - 1 tsp sugar.
12 - 8 oz ricotta cheese.
13 - 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
14 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella.

Instructions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook pasta 2-3 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
02 - In a large pot, cook sausage and onion until browned (7-10 minutes). Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute.
03 - Add crushed tomatoes, cream, salt, pepper, and sugar to the sausage mixture. Simmer for 5 minutes.
04 - In a 9x13 casserole, layer half the pasta mixture. Spoon ricotta over it for a cheesy layer. Add remaining pasta mixture on top.
05 - Sprinkle with Parmesan and mozzarella.
06 - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until bubbly, then broil until cheese is golden. Enjoy!.

Notes:

01 - This cheesy baked ziti is a hearty, comforting dish perfect for gatherings.
02 - Optional red pepper flakes add a slight kick; adjust to taste.