I remember being a kid and every single party would involve baked ziti. And it was always pink. And tasted like nothing
So, for many years, I avoided this pink, tasteless pasta dish
Then I said to myself… “Self? Why not make a version of baked ziti that has taste and isn’t pink??” Duh. So here it is!
To step completely outside the ziti box, I’m using penne. Mostly because I always have penne on hand and everyone in my family likes penne
Cook a pound of your favorite pasta (it’s ok to use ziti… really) slightly less than the al dente directions on the package. Add in a cup of tomato sauce, stir and set aside
I’m using Simply Sunday’s Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce
Remove the casings from 2 pounds of Italian hot sausage. You can use a mix of sweet and hot if you’d like. We’re spicy people and love hot Italian sausage
Chop one medium onion and dice 4 garlic cloves
Heat a few swirls of olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add in a bay leaf and a 1/4 of a teaspoon of crushed red pepper. Told you we were spicy people
Once the oil is hot, add in the onion and garlic. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the veggies start to soften
Add in the sausage and break up into smaller pieces. Continue to cook for about 8-10 minutes until the sausage is browned
Add in 2 cups of tomato sauce to the sausage mixture & stir to combine
Now let’s work on the cheese mixture
Shred a one pound block of mozzarella and reserve one cup for the topping
Measure out 1/2 cup parmesan, one egg and a 16 ounce container of ricotta cheese
Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl
Combine the pasta and cheese mixture
Now we’re ready for assembly. Layer half of the pasta-cheese mixture in a casserole pan
Top with half of the meat mixture
Sprinkle with a layer of shredded parmesan
Repeat with another pasta/cheese layer and meat layer
Top with the reserved shredded mozzarella and bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes until browned and bubbly
Yeah, just like that. Not pink, not tasteless. Just a baked pasta casserole filled with love and flavor
Enjoy!
Simply Sundays! ~ Baked Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
1 pound of your favorite pasta
3 cups of Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce
2 pounds of Italian hot sausage, casings removed
1 medium onion
4 garlic cloves
Olive oil
1 bay leaf
1/4 of a teaspoon of crushed red pepper
1 pound block of mozzarella, shredded
1/2 cup parmesan
1 egg
16 ounce container of ricotta cheese
1/2 cup of shredded parmesan
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Cook a pound of your favorite pasta slightly less than the al dente directions on the package. Add in a cup of tomato sauce, stir and set aside
Remove the casings from 2 pounds of Italian hot sausage; chop one medium onion and dice 4 garlic cloves
Heat a few swirls of olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add in a bay leaf an a 1/4 of a teaspoon of crushed red pepper; once the oil is hot, add in the onion and garlic. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the veggies start to soften
Add in the sausage and break up into smaller pieces. Continue to cook for about 8-10 minutes until the sausage is browned
Add in 2 cups of tomato sauce to the sausage mixture & stir to combine
Shred a one pound block of mozzarella and reserve one cup for the topping; measure out 1/2 cup parmesan, one egg and a 16 ounce container of ricotta cheese; mix all of the ingredients in a bowl; combine the pasta and cheese mixture
Layer half of the pasta-cheese mixture in a casserole pan; top with half of the meat mixture; sprinkle with a layer of shredded parmesan
Repeat with another pasta/cheese layer and meat layer
Top with the reserved shredded mozzarella and bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes until browned and bubbly
© Simply Sundays 2016
All rights reserved
sounds amazing. I rarely follow recipes so I fall into the rut of everything tasting the same. Love your blog and recipes. Keep on keepin’ on.
Thanks Amelia! We will!! 🙂