Skillet-Baked Ziti With Sausage

America's Test Kitchen

• Ready In: 1 hr 3 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 (28 ounce) can whole canned tomatoes
• 1  lb  sweet Italian sausage or 1  lb hot Italian sausage, casings removed
• 6  garlic cloves, minced
• 1⁄4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
•  salt
•  pepper
• 3  cups water
• 12  ounces ziti pasta (3 3/4 c.)
• 1⁄2 cup heavy cream
• 1  ounce parmesan cheese, grated (1/2 c.)
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped fresh basil
• 4  ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (1 cup)

Directions

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position; preheat oven to 475°.
2. Pulse tomatoes in food processor until coarsely ground and no large pieces remain, about 12 pulses.
3. Cook sausage in 12-inch ovensafe nonstick skillet over med-high heat, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 4 minutes.
4. Stir in garlic and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
5. Stir in processed tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
6. Decrease heat to med-low and simmer gently until tomatoes no longer taste raw, about 10 minutes.
7. Stir in water and pasta.
8. Cover and increase heat to med-high, and cook at vigorous simmer, stirring often, until pasta is tender, 15-18 minutes.
9. Stir in cream, Parmesan, and basil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
10. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over top.
11. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until cheese is melted and browned, 10-15 minutes; serve.