Author Notes: This recipe is adapted from Al Forno's famous baked pasta method -- it uses less cream and cheese, and incorporates a hearty sausage ragu for a more tomatoey pasta. A word of advice: if you're not going to bake off the finished dish right away, boil the pasta for even less time than the instructions call for (like 2-3 minutes). As the pasta lies cradled in delicious sauce in the fridge it will continue to soften, and you don't want it to turn to mush. 

Baked Pasta with Chicken Sausage

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1tablespoon olive oil
• 3/4pound fresh sweet Italian sausage (I use chicken, but feel free to use pork)
• 1/2onion, diced
• Kosher salt
• 1fat clove garlic, peeled and smashed
• Handful basil leaves
• 4cups chopped tomatoes (fresh or canned)
• 1cup heavy cream
• 1/2cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4cup ricotta cheese
• 1cup grated mozzarella
• 1pound short pasta (I like penne or conchiglie)
• 2tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium heavy saucepan until shimmering. Remove the sausage from the casings and add it to the pan, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Brown the sausage well, stirring a couple times, about 5 minutes.
2. Create a hole in the middle of the pan and add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook until softened, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the tomatoes and the basil and stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens and the flavors meld, at least 30 minutes. Taste and add salt if necessary. Remove the basil leaves and set the sauce aside.
3. Heat the oven to 500 °F and butter a 2-quart baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine the sausage sauce with the rest of the ingredients, except the pasta and butter. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir well.
5. Drop the pasta into the boiling water and cook for 4 minutes. Drain well and add to the mixing bowl, tossing gently to combine everything.
6. Spread the pasta evenly into the baking dish. Dot evenly with the butter, and bake until bubbly and brown, 7 to 10 minutes. Cool for a few minutes before serving.

https://food52.com/recipes/31686-baked-pasta-with-chicken-sausage