1 pound pasta (ziti, penne work best)
Olive oil
1 pound meant (Italian sausage, ground beef or pork, ground turkey or combination as you like)
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning or chopped herbs – oregano, thyme, parsley
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 large jar of marinara sauce (about 32 ounces) or homemade tomato sauce
1/2 pound of mozzarella cheese, grated
1 heaping cup ricotta cheese
1 cup grated parmesan or pecorino cheese
Cook pasta al dente – pasta will continue to cook slightly when baking.
Drain pasta and toss with a little olive oil and set aside.
Brown meat. In a large sauté pan on medium-high heat, add meat once oil is hot. Break up any large chunks and brown well.
Don’t stir often so meat browns. Add salt to taste.
Once meat is browned, add onions and cook until clear, then add garlic. Add garlic, cook one minute, add basil, Italian seasoning and red pepper and stir to combine. Cook one minute, then add tomato sauce and stir well. Bring to a simmer.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Layer sauce, cheese, pasta in casserole dish. Spread thin layer of sauce in bottom of a 9×13-inch casserole pan first, then dot the with the cheeses. Sprinkle the top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Bake 20 min: Bake in oven at 375°F until the top is lightly browned and the cheese melted, about 20 minutes.
Serves 8