5-Cheese Baked Ziti with Tomato Cream Sauce Recipe

• Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente, according to package directions. meanwhile, cook italian sausage and diced onion in a skillet over medium heat until sausage is browned and onion is softened. add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
• Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper to the sausage mixture and stir to combine. reduce heat to a simmer and let sauce reduce by about one third or until thickened to desired consistency. add parmesan cheese and heavy whipping cream and stir to combine.
• Combine cooked pasta and sauce. spoon half the mixture to the bottom of a 9"x13" baking dish (or freezer pan) or a large oven-safe skillet. nestle spoonfuls of ricotta cheese into the pasta and then sprinkle with shredded gouda.
• Layer the rest of the pasta and sauce. then top with mozzarella and monterey jack cheeses. if you have a little parmesan cheese leftover from the sauce, add that on top too!
• Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly! serve with some of your favorite bread, and enjoy!
• if freezing, follow the recipe through step 4, making sure to layer the ingredients in a freezer-safe baking dish. let cool to room temperature and cover with foil before freezing.

to bake:

• Bake it straight from frozen in a 400 degree oven for about 1.5 hours or until heated through, taking off the foil for the last 20 minutes; or you can reduce the cooking time by letting it thaw in your fridge overnight and baking at 400 for about 30 minutes, or until heated through, with the foil off.*