This simple and quick ziti made in a skillet is packed with gooey mozzarella and pieces of browned turkey.
Serves 4 to 6
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 31 minutes to 39 minutes
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A delicious baked ziti is among the true joys in life. The mix of savory tomato sauce, melted cheese, and crunchy noodles create a perfect balance of textures and flavors. It’s a timeless dish loved by both children and adults, and it remains one of my top comfort foods.
This simple and fast version is made with lean ground turkey, which enriches the sauce and makes it a complete meal, while a dash of red pepper flakes gives it some spiciness. You can think of it as a blend of Bolognese sauce and baked ziti, topped with a rich cheesy layer that unifies everything.
3 Tips for Creating the Best Baked Ziti
Before you start cooking this baked ziti, here are some helpful suggestions.
1. Prepare your pasta slightly under al dente.
Since the pasta will keep cooking during baking, it’s important to stop cooking a little earlier than al dente. The ziti should be soft yet still have a bit of firmness in the center. For most ziti dishes, this means cooking for about six to seven minutes.
2. You can lower the amount of red pepper flakes if preferred.
This recipe calls for one teaspoon of red pepper flakes to provide some heat to the sauce. If you are not used to spicy food, feel free to cut down on it or leave it out entirely.
3. To save time, you can put the pasta together in advance and bake it later.
You can fully prepare this meal, tightly wrap it in plastic wrap, and keep it in the fridge for up to a day before baking. When it’s time to eat, just pop it in the oven.
Baked Ziti with Spicy Ground Turkey
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 31 minutes to 39 minutes
Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for boiling the pasta
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 (28ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 pound dried ziti pasta
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Position an oven rack in the center and preheat the oven to 350ºF. While that heats up, get the pasta water ready and begin making the sauce.
- Boil a large pot of water with plenty of salt. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large ovensafe skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Add in 1 pound of ground turkey and cook, breaking it into small bits with a wooden spoon, until it is completely cooked and browned, which should take about 4 to 6 minutes.
- Add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, then cook for another minute until you can smell the spices. Pour in 1 (28ounce) can of crushed tomatoes, lower the heat to maintain a simmer, and cook while you prepare the pasta.
- Introduce 1 pound of dried ziti to the boiling water and cook it for 6 to 7 minutes until it reaches al dente. In the meantime, slice 8 ounces of fresh mozzarella cheese into thin pieces, and chop enough fresh basil leaves to make 2 tablespoons, coarsely.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain it. Mix the pasta with the sauce and stir well to ensure everything is blended. Place the mozzarella slices evenly on top of the pasta. Bake it for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and turned golden brown. Top with the chopped basil.
Recipe Notes
Storage:
You can keep leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutritional
Hide red-meat-free
fish-free tree-nut-free
egg-free alcohol-free
soy-free pork-free
high-fiber shellfish-free
peanut-free Per serving, based on 6 servings. (% daily value)
Calories 577
Fat 18.9 g (29.1%)
Saturated 8.0 g (39.9%)
Carbs 67.5 g (22.5%)
Fiber 5.0 g (20.1%)
Sugars 8.3 g
Protein 35.2 g (70.4%)
Sodium 756.0 mg (31.5%)
