1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook ziti until just al dente, drain and toss with olive oil.

3. In a skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil and sauté garlic and onion until translucent.

4. Add meat if using and cook until browned, then stir in tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and heavy cream and simmer for 10 minutes.

5. In a bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, half of Parmesan, salt, and pepper.

6. Layer one cup of sauce in the baking dish, half of the pasta, half of the ricotta mixture, and half of the remaining sauce and mozzarella.

7. Repeat layers with remaining pasta, ricotta mixture, sauce, mozzarella, and top with remaining Parmesan.

8. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes, remove foil and bake an additional 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden.

9. Let rest 10 minutes, garnish with basil or parsley, then slice and serve.