Baked Ziti with Turkey Meatballs

Recipe View In a mixing bowl, gently combine the ground turkey, minced garlic, bread crumbs, diced onion, toasted pine nuts, chopped parsley, beaten egg, salt, and black pepper. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the mixture. (5 minutes)

Recipe View Form the mixture into meatballs approximately 1 inch in diameter. (10 minutes)

Recipe View In a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. (2 minutes)

Recipe View Carefully add half of the meatballs to the hot skillet, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides and cooked through. This should take about 4-6 minutes. Transfer the cooked meatballs to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. (6 minutes)

Recipe View Repeat the process with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the remaining meatballs. (6 minutes)

Recipe View Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 3 to 4 quart baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray. (5 minutes)

Recipe View Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta well. (10 minutes)

Recipe View In a separate small bowl, toss together the shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Romano cheese. (2 minutes)

Recipe View Begin assembling the baked ziti. Spoon approximately 1 1/2 cups of tomato sauce into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly over the bottom. Arrange half of the cooked turkey meatballs over the sauce, followed by half of the cooked ziti pasta. (5 minutes)

Recipe View Spread half of the remaining tomato sauce over the pasta, then sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and Romano cheese mixture. (3 minutes)

Recipe View Top with the remaining turkey meatballs, then dollop the ricotta cheese evenly over the meatballs. Spread the remaining ziti pasta over the ricotta, and top with the remaining tomato sauce and cheese mixture. (5 minutes)

Recipe View Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown. (35 minutes)

Recipe View Remove the baked ziti from the oven and let it stand for 10 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the dish to set slightly. (10 minutes)