Baked Ziti with Ricotta

Ingredients

Ingredients

• 1 lb ziti pasta
• 1 lb italian sausage
• 4 cups marinara sauce
• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente; drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage until browned and crumbled, about 5-7 minutes; drain excess fat if needed.
4. Stir in the marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes to combine flavors; season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese with half of the mozzarella, the grated Parmesan, beaten egg, chopped parsley, and a pinch of salt.
6. In the prepared baking dish, layer half of the cooked ziti, then half of the sausage sauce, and dollop half of the ricotta mixture on top.
7. Repeat the layers with the remaining ziti, sausage sauce, and ricotta mixture; sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on top.
8. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes; remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
9. Let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.