Preheat oven to 400°
Bring water to a boil and cook pasta noodles until al dente. Reserve 1/3 cup of pasta water and set aside. Drain noodles and return to the pot. Stir in one teaspoon of olive oil. Set aside for now.
Chop zucchini and set aside.
Mince garlic.
Empty sausage from casings and brown on medium-high heat. Add half of the garlic and stir frequently. Once cooked, drain on a paper towel lined dish to remove much of the extra grease.
Pour two teaspoons of olive oil into the pan. Add the remaining garlic and cook the zucchini until it appears soft. Do not overcook. About 6-7 minutes.
Add the reserved pasta water, zucchini, pasta sauce and sausage to the noodles. Stir to combine all ingredients.
Transfer to a casserole dish.
Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
*I often make it and let it sit out for about 30 minutes before baking if we are not quite ready to eat.