Cheesy Baked Ground Sausage & Pasta Recipe

Looking for a loaded and shareable recipe that you can serve on your dinner table to level up your weeknight family meal? Try this baked ziti and ground sausage casserole filled with a tomato-based sauce and three different kinds of cheese! Learn how to make this yummy recipe by Preppy Kitchen on YouTube today.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 pound ground Italian sausage
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (32-ounce) jar marinara sauce
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• ¼-¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 pound dry ziti pasta
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
• ⅔ cup grated parmesan, divided

Directions:

Step 1

Place a large skillet pan on a stove over medium-high heat, then heat up some oil before you add the onion. Let it cook while stirring frequently for about 5 minutes or until it becomes translucent. Add in the sausage and garlic making sure to break up the sausage, then cook them until they turn nice and brown. Pour in the marinara sauce, add the tomatoes as well, then season them with Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, and stir them all together until they are well combined. Bring it to a simmer before reducing the heat to a medium-low setting. Continue to let them simmer while stirring occasionally for about 30 minutes or until it thickens before seasoning it with some salt and pepper according to your taste.

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Step 2

Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil, then add a teaspoon of salt per quart of water, and place the pasta. Cook them until they become almost tender, then drain all of the water, and rinse with cold water. Return them to the same pot, then add about 2 cups of the prepared tomato sauce mixture, and give them a good stir. Grab a casserole or baking dish, then scoop and transfer some of the tomato sauce to lightly cover the bottom of the dish. Then, pour half of the portion of the pasta into an even layer, then top it with the remaining sauce mixture. Sprinkle half of the parmesan, a cup of ricotta, and half of the mozzarella over the pasta, then repeat with the remaining portion of each ingredient. Place it in a preheated oven at 350°F and let it bake for about 40 minutes or until it’s bubbling around the edges and the top is browned. Let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

*These amazing images are all credited to Preppy Kitchen via YouTube. Check his other content and follow for more!

Cheesy Baked Ground Sausage & Pasta Recipe