This Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage delivers maximum comfort, featuring a hearty meat sauce, zesty Italian seasoning, and creamy ricotta topped with melty mozzarella. Serve it alongside some warm garlic bread or a fresh Caesar salad for a complete Italian feast!
Delicious & Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
Italian baked ziti is one of my all-time favorite cozy dishes. It’s warm, satisfying, and loaded with flavor. But sometimes, the classic ground beef version can feel a bit heavy. Switching to ground turkey is an excellent way to keep things lean without sacrificing any of that rich, savory flavor we all love.
For this baked ziti with turkey sausage recipe, we’ll cook the pasta, brown the sausage, make the sauce, and bring all the elements together in the oven until golden and bubbly. It’s definitely hands-on, but it’s also easy and well worth the effort.
Ingredients
- Ziti noodles: The classic pasta shape that holds all the cheesy, saucy goodness.
- Olive oil: A drizzle to get everything cooking perfectly.
- Italian turkey sausage: I prefer this type of Italian sausage because it’s flavorful yet lighter than pork. Â
- Onion & garlic: The dynamic duo for building a delicious, savory base.
- Seasoning: A mix of Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper to bring everything together.
- Marinara sauce: The heart of the dish, adding rich tomato flavor.
- Cheese: A dreamy trio of ricotta, parmesan, and shredded mozzarella for layers of creamy, melty perfection.
- Fresh parsley: A sprinkle on top for a pop of color and fresh flavor.
Can I make this vegetarian?
Sure! To make this baked ziti vegetarian, simply omit the turkey sausage and use your favorite meatless alternative or add additional vegetables like mushrooms or eggplant.
How to Make Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
To start, set your oven to 375°F. Then grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Next, cook the ziti in well-salted water until very al dente. Make sure to reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining the rest.
Pro Tip
“Very al dente” means take it out 2-3 minutes before the package’s minimum cook time. It will soak up the sauce and finish cooking in the oven. This prevents a mushy final texture.
Step 2: Brown the Sausage
Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Then add your turkey sausage meat and cook, breaking it up until browned.
Step 3: Make the Sauce
Now add the onion and ½ teaspoon salt, then cook for 4–5 minutes until soft. Stir in garlic for 30 seconds.
Add Italian seasoning, marinara sauce, and black pepper; simmer 5–8 minutes. Stir in a splash of pasta water to loosen to a saucy consistency.
Step 4: Combine & Assemble
Toss the drained ziti with the sausage sauce. Toss well, then fold the ricotta mixture through all the sauced ziti.
Spread half the ziti in the prepared baking dish, then spread a layer of parmesan cheese and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
Finally, spread the remaining sauced ziti, then finish off with a sprinkle of the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella (plus a little Parmesan).Â
Want to make this recipe ahead?
Once everything is assembled, cover and refrigerate your ziti for up to 24 hours. Then, when you’re ready to bake, just add an extra 10 minutes to the covered bake time.
Step 5: Bake
Time to bake! Cover your ziti with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then uncover and bake 10–15 minutes more until bubbling and lightly browned. Feel free to broil 1–2 minutes for extra color.
Step 6: Let Rest & Serve
Rest 10 minutes so it sets, and finish with parsley and extra parmesan. Serve and enjoy!
Why rest? Resting your ziti will give you nice, clean slices when serving. It just makes things easier, less messy, and gives you a wonderful presentation.
Try My Other Delicious Pasta Dishes
- Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
- Stovetop Mac & Cheese
- Slow Cooker Lasagna Roll-Ups
- Chicken Tortellini Soup
- Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Pasta
​Storage & Reheating
Store your leftover baked ziti with turkey sausage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, place in a baking dish and cover with foil. Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave.
PrintRecipe
Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage
- Total Time: 50-55 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
Description
This Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage has a hearty meat sauce, zesty Italian seasoning, and creamy ricotta, all smothered in melty mozzarella for the perfect cozy dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided (plus more to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 32-ounce marinara sauce
- ½ cup pasta cooking water (reserved)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Set oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook ziti in well-salted water until very al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water; drain.
- Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add turkey sausage; cook, breaking it up, until browned.
- Add the onion and ½ teaspoon salt, then cook for 4–5 minutes until soft. Stir in garlic for 30 seconds.
- Add Italian seasoning, marinara sauce, and black pepper; simmer 5–8 minutes. Stir in a splash of pasta water to loosen to a saucy consistency.
- Toss the drained ziti with the sausage sauce. Toss well, then fold the ricotta mixture through all the sauced ziti.
- Spread half the ziti in the prepared baking dish. Spread a layer of parmesan cheese and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Spread the remaining sauced ziti, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella (plus a little Parmesan). Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 10–15 minutes more until bubbling and lightly browned. Broil 1–2 minutes for extra color.
- Rest 10 minutes so it sets. Finish with parsley and extra Parmesan.
Notes
- Keep pasta underdone before baking so it doesn’t go soft.
- To make ahead, assemble, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours; add 10 minutes to the covered bake time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop & Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
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