Spicy Sausage Baked Ziti

Ingredients

For the Ziti

12 ounces ziti pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon salt, for pasta water

For the Meat Sauce

1 pound Italian sausage, spicy, casings removed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 yellow onion, small, diced
3 garlic, cloves, minced
28 ounces crushed tomatoes, can
6 ounces tomato paste, can
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more, to taste
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
1/2 cup chicken broth, or water

For the Cheese Layer

15 ounces ricotta cheese, part-skim
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 egg, large
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

For the Topping

2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, low-moisture, part-skim
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the ziti pasta and the 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the boiling water. Cook according to package directions until al dente, about 7-9 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 375
2
While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the spicy Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks, until browned through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
⏱️ 7 min
3
Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min
4
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and chicken broth. Stir everything together, bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it gently cook for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
⏱️ 15 min
5
In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, the large egg, chopped fresh parsley, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper. Mix until well combined.
⏱️ 5 min
6
To assemble the baked ziti, spread about 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer half of the cooked ziti over the sauce. Dollop spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture evenly over the ziti. Top with another 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce. Add the remaining ziti, then cover with the remaining meat sauce.
⏱️ 5 min
7
Sprinkle the 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top. Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil.
⏱️ 2 min
8
Bake for 20 minutes with the foil on. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden. For an extra golden-brown top, you can briefly broil for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 35 min•🌡️ 375
9
Let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow it to set. This will make it easier to cut and serve.
⏱️ 10 min