Baked Ziti

Submitted by Chef #382418

"This is a recipe of my sister-in-law's that I tweaked by adding a few more vegetables to the basic pasta/sauce/meat original. You can add extra cheese before or after baking, or substitute only mild or hot sausage to prepare to your personal tastes."

 

• Ready In: 50mins
• Ingredients: 14
• Serves: 6-8

ingredients

• 1 lb ziti pasta or 1 lb penne
• 1⁄2 lb mild Italian sausage
• 1⁄2 lb hot Italian sausage
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 medium onion
• 1 green pepper
• 1 red pepper
• 1 (4 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon italian seasoning (or spice to taste)
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• Pam cooking spray

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Heat pot of water to boiling and prepare pasta to al dente directions.
3. While water is heating, chop/dice the garlic, onion, and peppers.
4. Heat olive oil in frying pan and saute chopped vegetables for 2-3 minutes.
5. Add sausage to pan, breaking it up using a spatula or wooden spoon into bite-sized pieces and fully cook until no red/pink color remains.
6. While sausage is cooking, in small pot, heat sauce and paste, stirring to combine.
7. Add mushrooms and italian seasonings to tomato sauce and bring to a simmer.
8. Coat 9x13 baking pan with Pam or other cooking spray.
9. Drain sausage mixture once cooked and combine with drained pasta, and tomato sauce mixture in 9x13 pan.
10. Top with 1 cup shredded mozerella cheese.
11. Bake for 30 minutes and serve.