This Baked Ziti with Ground Turkey is a family favorite. It has saucy, meaty, and cheesy layers and is topped with tons of bubbling mozzarella. It is the perfect recipe for dinner!
This baked ziti with ground turkey is the ultimate comfort food dinner. It is a crowd pleasing favorite that is loaded with tons of delicious saucy, meaty, and cheesy layers. You can’t go wrong with this pasta dish, it is sure to be a hit.
You can serve this baked ziti with toasty garlic bread or this Basil Sourdough Bread. It also goes nicely with a fresh green salad too.
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❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe
- Family favorite: This cheesy and saucy pasta makes for a great family friendly dinner idea.
- Easy: Just a little bit of hands on time and then this dish is off the oven to finish baking.
- Tastes great: This baked ziti is loaded with zesty tomato sauce and melted cheese. It is sure to please!
🥣 Ingredients needed
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
For this recipe, you will need:
- Ground turkey: I recommend using a lean ground turkey.
- White onion
- Spaghetti sauce: You’ll need two jars of your favorite spaghetti sauce (about 24 ounces each).
- Italian seasoning and garlic powder
- Ziti
- Ricotta, Mozzarella, and Parmesan: The cheese for the pasta.
🥄Variations
- You can use ground beef or ground bison instead of ground turkey.
- You can also swap the ziti out for penne or another medium sized pasta, if needed.
- Try adding a little bit of red paper flakes for some spice.
- Use your favorite brand of pasta sauce.
🔪 Equipment needed
You will need a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish.
⏲️ Recipe instructions (step by step guide)
Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish.
Next, brown your ground turkey and diced onion (image 1). Brown over medium high heat until thoroughly cooked and no pink remains. Drain any fat with paper towels.
Add in your pasta sauce and seasonings (image 2). Let simmer.
Cook your pasta in a large pot with a pinch or two of salt. Cook until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse with cool water (image 3).
Add a layer of pasta to your casserole dish (image 4).
Next, cover with half of the meat and sauce mixture and cheeses (image 5).
Add another layer with the remaining ingredients (image 6).
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cheese is nice and melted.
🥗 What to serve with this recipe
A nice green salad (we love this Amish Salad Dressing and this Copycat Outback Ranch on our salads), garlic bread, or a loaf of basil sourdough bread are all great side dishes to serve with this baked ziti recipe.
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- I recommend under cooking your pasta a little. It will continue to cook in the oven.
- You may need to adjust the seasonings if you are using a seasoned pasta sauce.
🥡 How to store leftovers
Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container or you can cover your casserole dish with aluminum foil and then refrigerate. Leftovers will be good for up to four days after making.
📋 Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can freeze this baked ziti. Assemble but do not bake. Cover it with foil and then freeze for up to three months. I recommend letting it defrost before baking.
Yes, you can assemble this recipe. Complete all of the instructions before baking. Cover and place in your fridge. You can assemble this dish a day before you need to bake it.
Other recipes you may like:
If you tried this Baked Ziti with Ground Turkey or any other recipe on my site, please leave a ⭐ rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I would love to hear from you and I’m always happy to try to answer any questions you may have!
Baked Ziti with Ground Turkey
Equipment
- 9 x 13 inch casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 small white onion diced
- 2 jars spaghetti sauce use your favorite brand (about 24 ounces each)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 16 ounces ziti pasta
- 15 ounces ricotta
- 2 cups shredded Mozzarella
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish.
- Next, brown your ground turkey and diced onion. Brown over medium high heat until thoroughly cooked and no pink remains. Drain any fat with paper towels.1 pound lean ground turkey, 1 small white onion
- Add in your pasta sauce and seasonings. Let simmer.2 jars spaghetti sauce, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, salt and pepper
- Cook your pasta in a large pot with a pinch or two of salt. Cook until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse with cool water.16 ounces ziti pasta
- Add a layer of pasta to your casserole dish then cover with half of the meat and sauce mixture.15 ounces ricotta, 2 cups shredded Mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- Cover with about half of the cheeses.
- Add another layer with the remaining ingredients.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cheese is nice and melted.
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