This version uses ground turkey instead of ground beef, but it has all of the flavor. Since full-fat cheese is used, I wouldn’t exactly call it healthy, but the milder taste of the meat really lets the other ingredients come through for a very tasty dish. This baked ziti is very kid friendly too and leaves over well.
I usually make it up to a day in advance and then just pop it in the oven at dinnertime. It makes that crazy witching hour with the kids much easier, since I can give them all of my attention.
Ingredients
16 ounces ziti
1 pounds ground turkey (not too lean)
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 (24 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce plus 3/4 cup additional sauce (store-bought pasta sauce has shrunk in volume)
2 eggs
15 ounces of ricotta cheese
2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Cook the pasta according to package directions.
Meanwhile, in a skillet, sauté the onions until they are almost translucent. Add the ground turkey and cook over medium heat until it is no longer pink; remove from heat and drain. Stir in the pasta sauce.
In a bowl, combine the eggs, ricotta cheese, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese.
Drain the pasta; add it to the cheese mixture and toss well to coat.
Spoon a third of the meat sauce into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish; top with half of the pasta mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining meat sauce.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake the dish at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let it stand for 15 minutes before serving.
This goes great with some crusty bread and a salad.
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