Description
A hearty baked ziti recipe with lean ground turkey, marinara sauce, and three types of cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti until just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the lean ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Season the meat with Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour in the marinara sauce and let it simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, mix the cottage cheese with 1 cup of the mozzarella and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan.
- Add the cooked ziti to the meat sauce and stir until evenly coated.
- Fold the cottage cheese mixture into the pasta mixture gently so it distributes well.
- Transfer everything to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
- Top with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
- Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve.
Notes
- This dish can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving.
- For a vegetarian option, replace ground turkey with vegetables or meat substitute.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 grams
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 grams
- Saturated Fat: 10 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 40 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 30 grams
- Cholesterol: 85 mg