Description
A savory, creamy twist on traditional baked ziti featuring hearty Italian sausage and a velvety pumpkin-infused sauce. Perfectly melted cheeses create a golden crust for the ultimate autumn comfort meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb Ziti pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage (ground)
- 1 cup Pumpkin puree
- 1 cup Ricotta cheese
- 2 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup Grated parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp Dried sage or fresh sage leaves
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Boil ziti in salted water for 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the Italian sausage until fully cooked, breaking it into crumbles.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Mix in the pumpkin puree and a splash of pasta water until the sauce is smooth.
- In a large bowl, combine the undercooked ziti, the pumpkin-sausage sauce, ricotta cheese, and half of the mozzarella.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and spread evenly.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American