Creamy Baked Ziti with Sausage
Ingredients
- 3 cups raw ziti pasta
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage casings removed
- 1 stick butter 8 tablespoons
- 1 cup mushrooms sliced
- 1 bell pepper or a combination of red and green bell peppers; sliced
- 1/2 cup onion chopped
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 cups milk
- 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Cook ziti according to pasta directions; drain and set aside.
- Heat the oven to 350 F.
- Grease a 2 1/2-quart casserole.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the sausage. Remove to paper towels to drain. Wipe the pan out with paper towels.
- Place the skillet over medium-low heat and add the butter. When the butter has melted and stopped foaming, add the mushrooms, green bell pepper, and onion; cook the vegetables until just tender.
- Blend the flour into the vegetable mixture, stirring until well blended and bubbly. Continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Gradually add the milk and cook until the mixture begins to boil, stirring constantly.
- Continue to cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently. Add 1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese, the Parmesan cheese, and the pepper. Stir until the cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Stir the hot cooked ziti and sausage into the sauce.
- Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared casserole.
- Top the pasta with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Notes
- Penne pasta and rigatoni are good substitutes for ziti.
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