Ingredients
12ozziti,or any pasta shape
1lbground Italian sausage
4clovesgarlic,minced
3large handfuls kale leaves,roughly-chopped, stems removed
2cupsmozzarella cheese,shredded
shredded Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes,optional, for toppings
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Heat a large stockpot full of generously-salted water for the pasta.
In a separate large skillet, saute the Italian sausage over medium-high heat until browned for about 8 to 10 minutes, breaking the sausage up with a spoon into bite-sized pieces while cooking.
When the sausage has browned, add in the minced garlic and saute for 1 to 2 additional minutes or until the garlic is fragrant. Remove pan from heat and set aside.
While the sausage is browning, cook the pasta al dente in the stockpot of boiling water according to package instructions. Drain.
Return pasta to the stockpot and add the sausage, garlic, and kale. Gently toss to combine until the kale is dark green and slightly wilted.
Pour half of the pasta into a greased 11×7-inch or 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup of cheese.
Layer the remaining half of the pasta evenly on top. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and just barely starts to turn golden. Remove and serve immediately, sprinkled with additional toppings if desired.
