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