Baked Ziti with Sausage & Bechamel

A delicious and easy pasta casserole to make for a crowd! Topped with our 5 minute Bechamel Sauce and using store bought Marinara it comes together quickly and can be made ahead of time!

Ingredients
Bechamel Sauce:
½ cup butter
¾ cup flour
4 cups whole milk
1 cup grated Parmesan
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground pepper

Pasta and Sauce:
1 pound mild Italian sausage pork, chicken or turkey
1 pound ziti pasta, penne can be substituted
2 26 ounce jar marinara sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. (While water is coming to a boil start your Bechamel) Add pasta and cook according to package directions. About 8-10 minutes.

For Bechamel Sauce:
In large skillet melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until fully incorporated and no visible signs of flour remain. About 1-2 minutes.
Pour in milk and continue to stir until thick and bubbly. About 5 minutes. Sauce is perfect when it coats the back of a spoon.
Add salt , pepper and nutmeg. Stir in parmesan and taste for seasoning. (We almost always have to add a bit more salt but it depends on how salty your cheese is so tasting is the key!)
Remove Bechamel from heat and set aside.
In large skillet add sausage. Remove casings if necessary. Cook breaking up with a wooden spoon until crumbly and cooked through. (If you prefer, and we do, drain any grease if necessary).
Pour marinara sauce into ground sausage. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
Reserve ⅓ cup of starchy pasta water and drain pasta. Pour hot pasta back in pot you cooked it in. Add sausage and marinara mixture. Add reserved water back into the pasta and sauce. This helps marry the sauce and pasta. Combine well.
Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray. Pour pasta, sausage and marinara into dish.
Pour Bechamel sauce over the top of the pasta and spread out with a spoon.
Top with additional ½ cup of parmesan and bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly around sides and sauce is slightly brown.
Serve with crusty french bread and a simple salad!

Notes:
We used mild Italian Sausage but you can spice it up with spicy Italian Sausage or cut out some calories with chicken sausage.
Use Marinara sauce without flavorings such as beef or mushroom if possible.

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