Baked Ziti with Sausage
This baked ziti is a great recipe for parties, potlucks and holidays, because it feeds a crowd. Although this baked ziti recipe calls for mild Italian sausage, feel free to use hot sausage if you like spicy food.Serve this baked ziti with garlic bread and spinach salad.
Ingredients:
- 16 oz. ziti pasta
- 8 oz. mild Italian sausage, casings removed, chopped
- 4 cups spaghetti sauce, divided
- 1-1/2 cups cottage cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cook pasta according to package directions for "al dente." Drain.
- Brown sausage. Drain. Mix with 3 cups of the spaghetti sauce, the cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese and Italian seasoning.
- Spread the remaining 1 cup of the spaghetti sauce in a 9 x 13 pan. Top with half of the ziti. Top with half of the sausage mixture. Top with remaining ziti and remaining sausage mixture. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top.
- Cover and bake 20 minutes. Remove cover, and bake another 20-35 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
- Let baked ziti rest 10 minutes before serving.
**Make Ahead Directions: Follow recipe through Step 4. Cover tightly with foil, and freeze. A day before you're ready to serve, thaw completely in the fridge overnight. Bake according to recipe directions.
