Description
A comforting and hearty dish featuring rich Italian sausage, creamy cheese, and ziti pasta, perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ziti pasta (slightly undercooked)
- 1.65 lbs ground Italian sausage (spicy or sweet)
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1.65 teaspoons sugar
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- â…“ cup plus 3 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- â…“ cup fresh basil, chopped
- 8 oz whole milk mozzarella, shredded
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook for 7 minutes, or until al dente. Drain and return the pasta to the pot. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, crumble in the sausage and cook until browned, about 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Remove all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan and reduce the heat to low.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, salt, sugar, and red pepper flakes. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Mix in the heavy cream, â…“ cup of the Pecorino Romano, cooked sausage, and chopped basil.
- Pour the mixture into the pot with the pasta and gently toss to coat.
- Transfer half of the pasta mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Top with half of the shredded mozzarella and half of the remaining Pecorino Romano.
- Layer the rest of the pasta mixture on top, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Pecorino Romano.
- Bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and garnish with more basil before serving.
Notes
Allow leftovers to cool completely before storing in airtight container. Baked ziti can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg