1-Preheat oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 425°F and setting the rack in the middle for even baking.

2-Cook pasta: First, cook the 1 pound ziti noodles in boiling salted water until just before al dente, about 7 minutes, then drain and set aside. This step ensures the pasta doesn’t get mushy in the oven.

3-Brown sausage: In a large sauté pan, brown the 1½ pounds ground Italian sausage over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes, then remove it and drain most of the fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon.

4-Sauté garlic and make sauce: Next, sauté the 4 cloves minced garlic in the same pan for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, 1½ teaspoons sugar, and ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, then simmer uncovered for 10 minutes to let the flavors meld. Stir in 1 cup heavy cream, ⅓ cup of the grated cheese, the cooked sausage, and ⅓ cup chopped fresh basil for that creamy, herbaceous touch.

5-Combine pasta and sauce: Gently combine the sauce with the cooked pasta in a large bowl. Layer half the mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish, then top with half of the 8 ounces shredded mozzarella and the remaining grated cheese. Add the rest of the pasta mixture and finish with the remaining cheeses.

6-Bake: Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and browned, then garnish with extra basil before serving.