Description
Million Dollar Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food that brings family and friends together over a hearty, cheesy pasta dish. This crowd-pleaser features al dente ziti layered with savory ground turkey, rich marinara sauce, and a trio of creamy cheeses, all baked to golden perfection. Perfect for weeknight dinners or festive gatherings, this versatile recipe is easily customizable to suit various tastes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 15 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 handful fresh basil (chopped)
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook ziti in boiling water until al dente; drain and set aside.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown ground turkey with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs for about 5–7 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix browned turkey with marinara sauce (reserve some), ricotta cheese, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Layer half of the ziti in the baking dish followed by half of the turkey mixture and half of the mozzarella. Repeat layers.
- Top with remaining marinara sauce and mozzarella; bake for 25–30 minutes until bubbly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 90mg