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Baked Ziti with Sausage

This hearty baked ziti is a classic Italian-American comfort dish that layers tender ziti pasta, savory sausage, marinara sauce, and gooey melted cheese. Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or meal prepping, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s easy to make and even better to share. Better yet, it’s just as delicious reheated, making it ideal for leftovers!

Ingredients (for 6-8 servings):

• 1 lb ziti pasta, cooked al dente
• 1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or spicy), casings removed
• 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 large egg
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it into crumbles, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 min.
3. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 min until fragrant. Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using). Simmer for 5 min.
4. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Mix until smooth and set aside.
5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti pasta with half of the sausage marinara sauce. Stir until the pasta is coated.
6. Spread half of the sauced pasta into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
7. Dollop the ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta, then layer with half of the remaining marinara sauce.
8. Add the rest of the pasta, top with the remaining sauce, and sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup of mozzarella cheese.
9. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 min. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 min., or until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
10. Let the baked ziti cool for 5 min. before serving.