One-Pot Ziti with Sausage

Ingredients

• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed if in casings
• 1/2 a medium yellow onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 3 cups uncooked ziti
• 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 pound whole-milk mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup (8 ounces) ricotta cheese

Steps

1. 1

   Place sausage in a Dutch oven and cook over medium-high heat, breaking sausage up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Once sausage is about halfway cooked, add onion. Cook 2 to 3 more minutes and add garlic. Cook 1 minute.

2. 2

   Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Add water and ziti. Stir well to get the ziti submerged. Cook 8 to 10 minutes or until pasta is almost al dente. (You still want it fairly firm because it will continue to cook for a while longer.)

4. 4

   Remove Dutch oven from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese. With a spoon, dollop ricotta cheese on top. Place Dutch oven in oven under the broiler until cheese on top is hot and melted.