Baked Ziti Sausage Ricotta (Printable Version)

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 340 g ziti pasta

→ Sausage Mixture

02 - 450 g Italian sausage, casings removed
03 - 1 onion, chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 800 g crushed tomatoes
06 - 1 tsp Italian seasoning
07 - 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes

→ Cheese

08 - 240 g ricotta cheese
09 - 200 g mozzarella cheese, shredded
10 - 50 g Parmesan cheese, grated

→ Garnish

11 - Fresh basil leaves

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 190°C. Cook ziti in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the Italian sausage with chopped onion and minced garlic until fully cooked, breaking up meat as it cooks. Stir in crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop flavor.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained ziti, sausage-tomato sauce, and ricotta cheese. Gently fold until evenly incorporated.
04 - Transfer the mixture to a baking dish. Evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan over the top.
05 - Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes or until the center is bubbling and cheese is golden brown.
06 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve hot.

# Helpful Notes:

01 - For easier serving and enhanced flavor, let the baked dish stand briefly after removing from the oven.