Baked Ziti
Delicious and filling, this baked ziti recipe is a great idea for family and friends. If desired, substitute out the ricotta cheese with cottage cheese for an interesting twist.
Ingredients
1 pkg ziti or penne pasta (about 1 pound pkg)
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp Italian seasoning blend
1 tsp dried basil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp red chili flakes
1 pound mild Italian sausage
1 can prepared pasta sauce (24 ounce can)
2 cups ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Olive oil
Instructions
1
Preheat oven to 350 degree’s.
2
Heat a large sauté pan on the stove and add enough olive oil to light coat the bottom of the pan.
3
Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning blend, dried basil, chopped onion and red chili flakes to the pan and sauté for a couple of minutes.
4
Add mild Italian sausage to the pan and brown with the onions and garlic (about 8 minutes).
5
Pour the prepared pasta sauce into the browned Italian sausage mixture, stir and simmer for 5 minutes.
6
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the ziti or penne pasta according the package directions. Strain and set aside.
7
Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and add about 2 cups of the sauce to the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
8
Sprinkle the sauce in the baking dish with half of the ricotta cheese.
9
Pour the remaining sauce into the cooked noodles and toss to coat. Transfer the noodles to the baking dish and top with remaining ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese.
10
Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is browned and filling is bubbling.
11
Remove from the oven, let the ziti sit for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with your favorite garlic rolls and enjoy!
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