Time: 35 minutes

Yield: 16 servings

Ingredients

• 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano, divided
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 (28-ounce) jar marinara sauce
• 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
• crusty bread, to taste, sliced, for serving

Directions

Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Step 2 –In a medium bowl, add the ricotta cheese, the garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon of the oregano, the parmesan cheese, and the black pepper and stir to combine.

Step 3 –In a skillet over medium heat, add the sausage and cook, while crumbling, until it is browned and no longer pink on the inside, about 4-5 minutes.

Step 4 –Drain the excess grease from the skillet.

Step 5 –Add the marinara sauce and the remaining oregano to the sausage and stir to combine.

Step 6 –Bring the sausage mixture to a simmer and cook until the flavors meld together, about 4-5 minutes.

Step 7 –In a 2-2 1/2-quart baking dish, spread the ricotta cheese mixture evenly onto the bottom of the dish.

Step 8 –Top the ricotta layer with 1/2 of the sausage mixture.

Step 9 –Sprinkle 1/2 of the mozzarella over the sausage mixture.

Step 10 –Repeat the layers using the remaining sausage mixture and the remaining mozzarella cheese.

Step 11 –Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake until slightly browned on top and bubbling about 15 minutes.

Step 12 –Transfer the dish from the oven and allow it to cool slightly about 5 minutes.

Step 13 –Serve hot with the crusty bread slices.