Skillet Baked Ziti with Sausage and Peppers

Baked pasta dishes are the perfect cold-weather comfort food and this baked ziti recipe is at the top of our list of favorites. Made with crumbled Italian sausage, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers and a creamy blend of ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella, it’s an easy, soul-satisfying pasta dinner that everybody seems to love.

Skillet Baked Ziti with Sausage and Peppers

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This recipe for baked ziti combines Italian sausage, tomatoes, bell peppers and a cheesy blend of ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella to make a delicious, hearty pasta dinner.

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time : 50 minutes mins

Total Time : 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

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Ingredients 

• 8 ounces ziti, penne or rigatoni
• 1 lb sweet Italian sausage, removed from the casings
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
• 1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 1-1/2 cups diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup cream
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 375°F and put a pot of salted water on to boil for the pasta.
• Heat the olive oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and sauté until lightly browned, breaking the meat up into small pieces with a spatula as it cooks.
• Reduce the heat to medium, add the onion and continue cooking until softened, 2 minutes. Add the garlic and bell peppers, combine well and continue cooking, stirring often, until the peppers are crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes longer.
• Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste and season to taste with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
• Combine the ricotta, parmesan, cream and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese in a small bowl and set aside.
• Cook and drain the pasta according to package directions. Add the pasta to the sausage mixture and combine. Stir in the ricotta mixture and combine thoroughly.
• Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, then top with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven for 5 to 7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

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