Cheesy Baked Ziti in Vodka Sauce
Description
A bold, elevated twist on a classic station staple, this dish is designed to satisfy a hungry crew with its rich textures and fiery kick. This isn't your average pasta bake—the ziti is bathed in a velvety, garlicky vodka sauce that adds a sophisticated depth of flavor, perfectly balanced by a tablespoon of red pepper flakes for a lingering, smoky heat. Packed with browned, spicy ground Italian sausage and loaded with a dual-threat cheese blend of sharp Parmesan and molten mozzarella, it emerges from the oven golden-brown and bubbling. It’s the ultimate high-energy, "set-and-forget" oven meal that stays hot and delicious even if the tones go off right at dinner time.
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 6-8
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground Italian sausage
- 2 boxes penne pasta
- 1 pound mozzarella cheese
- 8 oz parmesan cheese
- 2-24 oz jars of your favorite marinara sauce
- 1 small shooter (50 ml) of Tito's vodka
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp black pepper
- Italian seasoning to garnish
Instructions
- Step 1- Preheat oven to 350F and bring water to boil with a large amount of salt and a drizzle of olive oil
- Step 2- Add pasta and boil until al dente, remove from heat and drain, toss in a little more olive oil
- Step 3- Cook ground sausage in medium skillet, set aside
- Step 4- Add marinara, heavy cream, minced garlic, and Tito's into pot, cook at medium heat for 10 minutes, ensure there is a nice orange hue
- Step 5- Add red pepper flakes and black pepper to sauce and mix well
- Step 6- Combine pasta, sauce, and sausage in large casserole dish
- Step 7- Top dish with parmesan and mozzarella cheese, covering generously
- Step 8- Bake ziti 10-15 minutes or until cheese is fully melted
- Step 9- Serve with salad and garlic bread for a delicious dinner experience
- *Highly recommend using block cheese and grating it yourself, it melts better than bagged cheese
- *The longer you cook red pepper flakes, the spicier it will be