Baked Ziti Recipe

Ingredients

1/3 cup slightly packed chopped fresh basil, plus more for topping

1 lb. Johnsonville All Natural Mild or Hot Italian Sausage

1 3/4 cup chopped yellow onions (1 medium onion)

3/4 cup (3 oz) finely shredded parmesan, divided

3 cups (12 oz) shredded mozzarella, divided

4 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley, divided

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes

1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese

1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes

2 1/2 Tbsp tomato paste

3 cloves garlic, minced

16 oz. dry ziti pasta

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 large egg

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil (for pasta). Heat olive oil in a large saute pan (deep skillet), add onions and saute 2 minutes then add sausage and cook, stirring and breaking up sausage occasionally, until cooked through, adding in garlic during last 1 minute, drain excess fat. Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, 2 Tbsp parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring mixture to a light boil, then reduce heat to low and allow to simmer 15 minutes then remove from heat. In a mixing bowl using a fork stir together ricotta, egg, 2 Tbsp parsley and season with salt and pepper. Mix in 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella and 1/2 cup of the parmesan, set aside.

While sauce is simmering and while preparing cheese mixture boil pasta in salted water according to directions on package. Drain pasta while reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Return pasta to empty pot, immediately add reserved pasta water and 1 cup of the red sauce then toss pasta to coat.

Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Spread 1 1/3 cups of the red sauce evenly into bottom of dish, then spread 1/2 of the pasta over sauce then dollop spoonfuls of ricotta mixture all over pasta and flatten slightly then top with remaining pasta. Spoon remaining sauce evenly over pasta layer. Sprinkle top evenly with remaining 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella and 1/4 cup parmesan.

Tent baking dish with foil (don't let it touch the cheese or it will stick) and bake 15 minutes then uncover and bake 10 - 15 minutes longer until cheese is melted throughout. Serve warm.