Description
Enjoy a healthier twist on classic baked ziti with this recipe that includes lean ground turkey, plenty of veggies, and a mix of marinara and vodka sauces for extra flavor. Topped with a blend of cheeses and fresh basil, this dish is both nutritious and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 lb ziti noodles
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground turkey sausage
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 medium zucchini, chopped into small chunks
- 8 oz petite baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Sauces
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups marinara sauce (divided; Rao’s used)
- 2 cups vodka sauce (divided; Rao’s used)
Greens and Cheeses
- 2–3 cups baby spinach leaves
- 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese (or ricotta cheese)
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Garnish
- Fresh basil, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the pasta: Cook the ziti noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and toss with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Sauté meat and vegetables: In a large skillet, cook the ground turkey sausage, onion, zucchini, mushrooms, and garlic until the turkey is browned and the vegetables are tender.
- Season and sauce: Add Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, 1 cup marinara sauce, and 1 cup vodka sauce to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
- Layer the ziti: In the prepared baking dish, layer half of the cooked ziti noodles, followed by the meat and veggie mixture, spinach leaves, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers.
- Bake: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese, and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Let the ziti rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil and enjoy!
Notes
- You can customize the vegetables in this recipe based on your preferences or what you have on hand.
- Feel free to use your favorite combination of cheeses for a different flavor profile.
- This dish can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 375 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg