Baked Pasta with Sausage

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions for very al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain and add the pasta back to the pot. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 425°F and set the oven rack in the middle position. Heat a large sauté pan (preferably nonstick) over medium-high heat. Cook sausage, breaking apart with a wooden spoon, until lightly browned and just cooked through. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked sausage to a plate. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the pan and set over low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until soft but not browned, about 1 minute. Add the crushed tomatoes, salt, and sugar and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Add the cream, 1/3 of the parmesan cheese, cooked sausage, and basil to the pan; stir until evenly combined. Pour the contents of the sauté pan into the large pot with the pasta and gently stir to combine. Spoon half of the mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the parmesan cheese and 1/2 the shredded mozzarella. Spoon the remaining pasta mixture on top and sprinkle with the remaining parmesan and mozzarella. Transfer to the oven and bake, uncovered, until the cheese has melted and browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve.