A comforting casserole featuring ziti, Italian sausage, tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb ziti pasta
→ Meats
02 - 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
05 - 24 oz tomato passata or marinara sauce
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1 tsp dried basil
09 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
11 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Cheeses
12 - 9 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
13 - 4 oz ricotta cheese
14 - 2 oz grated Parmesan cheese
→ Fresh Herbs (optional)
15 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley or basil, chopped
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Boil the ziti in salted water until just al dente, then drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more.
05 - Add tomato passata, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and pepper. Let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - In a large bowl, mix cooked ziti, sausage sauce, ricotta, and half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses until well combined.
07 - Place half of the pasta mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Add remaining pasta mixture and top with remaining cheeses.
08 - Cover loosely with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
09 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
10 - Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or basil before serving.
