Italian Sausage and Three-Cheese Baked Ziti

Ingredients 0/16

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly spray a 4-quart baking dish with nonstick spray. In a bowl, mix together the mozzarella and Italian blend cheeses, then pop it in the fridge to keep it ready.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti until it’s just tender but still has a bit of bite—about 11 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside.

Step 3

While the pasta is cooking, heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and break it up into small pieces as it cooks. Sprinkle the baking soda over the sausage, then toss in the chopped onion and garlic. Keep stirring and breaking up any clumps until everything is nicely browned and crumbly, which should take around 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off any excess grease.

Step 4

Stir in the pasta sauce, olives, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, anchovy paste, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. If it looks a little dry, add up to 3 more tablespoons of oil. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer, stirring often, until it thickens up nicely—about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and fold in the cooked ziti.

Step 5

Now it’s time to assemble. Spread half of the sauced pasta evenly in your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half of the cheese mixture over the top. Carefully spoon the rest of the pasta on without disturbing the layers below—it’s okay if some noodles peek through; they’ll get beautifully browned as it bakes. Finish by scattering the remaining cheese over everything, plus a generous sprinkle of Parmesan.

Step 6

Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes until the dish is bubbly and golden on top. Let it rest for about 15 minutes before serving to let everything set and the flavors meld together. Enjoy!