Healthy Baked Ziti Turkey Veggies (Printable Version)

Lean turkey, veggies, and three cheeses baked with ziti noodles for a wholesome twist. #BakedZiti #TurkeyPasta #VeggieDish

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 1 pound ziti noodles
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Meat and Vegetables

03 - 1 pound ground turkey sausage
04 - 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
05 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
06 - 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Seasonings and Sauces

08 - 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
09 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - 2 cups marinara sauce, divided
13 - 2 cups vodka sauce, divided

→ Greens and Cheeses

14 - 2 cups baby spinach leaves
15 - 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
16 - 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
17 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Garnish

18 - Fresh basil leaves

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
02 - Cook ziti noodles until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and toss with olive oil.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground turkey sausage, chopped onion, zucchini, mushrooms, and minced garlic until turkey is browned and vegetables are tender.
04 - Stir in Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, 1 cup marinara sauce, and 1 cup vodka sauce. Mix thoroughly.
05 - In the prepared dish, layer half of the cooked pasta, then the turkey and vegetable mixture, spinach leaves, cottage or ricotta cheese, parmesan, and half the mozzarella. Repeat to form a second layer.
06 - Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil, add the remaining mozzarella, and bake 10 minutes longer until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
07 - Allow to rest for several minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve warm.

# Notes:

01 - Vegetable selection is flexible; use alternatives according to preference or availability.
02 - Mixing different cheeses customizes flavor and texture.