Ingredients for Baked Macaroni Delight
- Sweet Italian Sausage Link
- Ziti Pasta
- Ricotta Cheese
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Pasta Sauce
How to Make Baked Macaroni Delight
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Brown 1 lb Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until tender. Drain off excess grease, let cool slightly, and crumble coarsely.
- Cook 1 lb elbow macaroni according to package directions, but reduce cooking time by 2 minutes. This ensures the pasta doesn't become mushy in the baking process.
- Drain the pasta and rinse thoroughly under cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain again.
- In a large bowl, combine the crumbled sausage, 15 oz ricotta cheese, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, and 1/2 cup pasta sauce. Mix well.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sausage and cheese mixture and stir gently to combine.
- Spread a thin layer of pasta sauce (about 1/2 cup) in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Add one-third of the pasta mixture to the baking dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat layers twice more, ending with the remaining pasta mixture, the remaining mozzarella cheese (about 3/4 cup), and the remaining Parmesan/Romano cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned.
Chef's Tip for Extra Flavor
Want to unlock deeper, more complex flavors? Try toasting your whole spices before grinding them, or blooming ground spices in a little warm oil to enhance their aroma. Deglazing your pan with a bit of stock, wine, or even water after browning ingredients can capture those tasty caramelized bits, adding richness to your dish.
Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)
Sodium
91 g
Sugar
68g
Fat
132g
Carbs
28g
