Baked Ziti with Sausage
A comforting baked pasta dish featuring ziti noodles, flavorful Italian sausage, and a rich tomato cream sauce, topped with melted mozzarella and Pecorino Romano cheeses.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti noodles
- 1 1/2 pounds ground spicy or sweet Italian sausage
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/3 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 8 ounces whole milk mozzarella cheese, shredded
Notes
This dish can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- 2
Cook ziti noodles in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- 3
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage until browned. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- 4
Stir in crushed tomatoes, salt, sugar, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- 5
Add heavy cream and chopped basil to the sauce. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
- 6
In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti noodles, sausage sauce, and grated Pecorino Romano cheese. Mix well.
- 7
Transfer the mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- 8
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- 9
Let the baked ziti rest for 5 minutes before serving.