Description
A rich and comforting autumn twist on classic baked ziti, featuring savory Italian sausage and creamy pumpkin puree for a balanced, velvety flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb Ziti pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage, crumbled
- 15 oz pumpkin puree
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Boil ziti in salted water for 2-4 minutes less than the package directions, then drain.
- In a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium heat until crispy, then remove excess fat.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add pumpkin puree and marinara sauce to the skillet; simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.
- In a large bowl, combine the undercooked pasta, pumpkin sauce, and ricotta cheese, stirring gently.
- Pour half the pasta mixture into the dish, top with half the mozzarella, and repeat layers.
- Finish with the remaining mozzarella and a coating of parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.