Description
A delicious and cheesy baked ziti recipe that combines ziti pasta, ground turkey or sausage, and a creamy ricotta mixture, topped with provolone and Pecorino Romano cheese.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces ziti pasta
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground turkey or spicy Italian sausage
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups creamy ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups shredded provolone cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Boil the ziti pasta in salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, warm the olive oil over medium heat and sauté the chopped onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Introduce the ground turkey or sausage, breaking it up with a spatula, and cook until browned, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Pour in the diced tomatoes, oregano, thyme, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper. Simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In a separate bowl, blend the ricotta cheese with the egg, adding salt and pepper for seasoning until creamy and smooth.
- In a large baking dish, spread a layer of the meat sauce on the bottom.
- Layer half of the ziti over the sauce, followed by half of the ricotta mixture, and half of the provolone cheese.
- Repeat the layering process with the remaining ingredients, finishing with provolone and Pecorino Romano cheese on top.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
- Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, use spicy Italian sausage.
- Feel free to add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms for extra nutrition.
- Can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of the recipe
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg