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Pesto and Sausage Baked Ziti

Whether you're entertaining or relaxing, this recipe hits the spot.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 8 Servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 1 1 pound ziti noodles
  • 1 1 pound Italian turkey or chicken sausage casings removed
  • 1 1 medium yellow onion chopped
  • 2 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 (28-ounce) 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 1 cup pesto
  • 9 9 ounces baby spinach
  • 15- 15- ounces ricotta cheese
  • 2 2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 1 ½ 1 ½ cups grated parmesan

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch baking pan and set aside.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the ziti and cook until al dente. Drain.
  3. While the pasta is boiling, in a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat, add the turkey sausage, onion and garlic and cook until the sausage is cooked through, adding a bit of salt and pepper to taste (the amount will depend on the seasonings in the sausage). While it cooks, break up the sausage into smaller pieces. Drain any excess grease if needed.
  4. Add the diced tomatoes, pesto and salt and pepper to taste (I added about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper). Simmer for 10-12 minutes. Add the spinach, stirring until it cooks down a bit into the hot sauce, 1-2 minutes.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese and 1 1/4 cups of the Parmesan cheese.
  6. In the prepared baking dish, pour in the drained noodles. Dollop the ricotta mixture over the top of the noodles. Spread the sauce over the top and sprinkle with remaining cheese (1/2 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan).
  7. Bake until heated through and golden around the edges, about 20 minutes. Let stand 5-7 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Sausage: I like to use lean turkey or chicken sausage - the kind that comes in removable casings and is not precooked. If you can't find this type of sausage, you could probably substitute another kind of bulk pork sausage just take care to drain any excess grease and be sure to use uncooked sausage (not the precooked, kielbasa variety).
  • Pasta: also, you can sub rigatoni or penne for the ziti.
  • Spinach: if you are working out of a larger bag/tub of spinach, the 9 ounces is about the equivalent of 5-ish cups of spinach. That seems like a lot but it will wilt down in the recipe.
  • Pesto: you can use homemade or storebought pesto but if you choose storebought, make sure you like the flavor because the pesto flavor really comes through.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Serving Calories 724kcal (36%) Carbohydrates 55g (18%) Protein 38g (76%) Fat 39g (60%) Saturated Fat 15g (75%) Cholesterol 108mg (36%) Sodium 1480mg (62%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 6g (12%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 Serving
Calories 724kcal 36%
Carbohydrates 55g 18%
Protein 38g 76%
Fat 39g 60%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Cholesterol 108mg 36%
Sodium 1480mg 62%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 6g 12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.