best ziti ever with sausage

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 (16 ounce) package ziti pasta
• 1 pound mild italian sausage, casings removed
• 2 (24 ounce) jars classico® tomato and basil sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil, divided
• 12 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 1/2 teaspoons italian seasoning, divided
• 1 dash salt and pepper
• 1 pound mozzarella cheese, shredded

Recipe

Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Ready Time: 1 hr


• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c). bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• place sausage in a large, deep skillet. cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. drain, crumble and set aside. in a large saucepan, heat pasta sauce with 1 teaspoon basil until bubbling. in a medium bowl, mix together ricotta, 1 teaspoon italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
• spread bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with sauce. layer 1/2 of the ziti, 1/2, the sausage, 1/2 of the ricotta, and 1/2 the mozzarella. spoon half of the sauce over top. repeat layers. sprinkle top with remaining 1/2 teaspoons basil and italian seasoning.
• bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes.