Baked Ziti with Sausage

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 1 package dry ziti pasta , 16 ounce
• 1 pound mild Italian sausage
• 1 container ricotta cheese , 15 ounce
• 1 large yellow onion , minced
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.5 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1.5 jars spaghetti sauce , 26 ounce
• 1 package shredded Italian cheese blend , 8 ounce
• 1 teaspoon dried basil , Optional

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

2. 2

   Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Stir in ziti and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well.

3. 3

   While pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage; cook and stir until brown, about 10 minutes. Drain sausage and set aside.

4. 4

   Stir together ricotta, onion, egg, garlic, and oregano in a large bowl until well combined. Stir in pasta, sausage, salt, pepper, and the half jar of spaghetti sauce; mix well.

5. 5

   Cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish with 1/3 of the full jar spaghetti sauce. Layer with 1/2 of the pasta mixture, 1/2 of the remaining spaghetti sauce, and 1/2 of the shredded cheese. Repeat layers once more using remaining pasta, sauce, and cheese. Sprinkle basil over top and cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.

6. 6

   Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, about 20 minutes. Uncover; return to the oven and bake until cheese is melted, 5 to 10 more minutes.