A Healthier Baked Ziti

Quick and Easy Pasta Dinner

May 4, 2009 Laura Block-Stewart

Here is a simple dinner that the whole family will love and it only takes a few minutes to prepare.

During the middle of the week, it is often difficult for parents to find a dinner dinner that is nutritious, takes only a short time to prepare and tastes good to the entire family. Picking up fast food is always an option for families who are short on time, but with the obesity epidemic in the United States, it is not recommended.

Parents often look for dishes that can be prepared ahead of time and "popped" into the oven when they return home from work, sporting events or other activities. It isn't easy to find recipes that that fit into this category that are healthy. T.V. dinners aren't an option and traditional pasta dishes aren't always the best option for the waistlines either. If picky eaters exist in the family, parents can have a difficult time.

Here is option that is healthier take on a traditional pasta dish and it still tastes good. The kids won't miss the fat and neither will the parents. It can be prepared ahead of time and put int the oven 40 minutes before dinner time. It can also be frozen and served at a later date.

Ingredients

  • 1 large onion
  • 1 package of sliced mushrooms
  • 1- 28 oz jar of Prego pasta sauce (or favorite sauce)
  • 1/2 pound of whole wheat pasta (ziti or penne are preferred for this dish)
  • 1/2 pound of ground turkey sausage
  • 2 cups of reduced fat mozarella and cheddar cheese
  • 3 TBS of hot sauce

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a large casserole dish by spraying a no stick cooking spray.
  2. Boil water to cook the whole wheat pasta and cook until done. (Note the exact cooking time on the box as this changes depending upon the specific type of pasta). Drain the pasta in a colander and set aside.
  3. Dice the onion and saute in a large pan with olive oil. Add the mushrooms and when the onions are translucent, take the mixture and put it in the large casserole dish. Add the sausage to the pan and saute until brown. Place the sausage in a colander and rinse off any fat. Add the sausage to the casserole dish.
  4. Stir the mushrooms, onion, and sausage mixture. Add the jar of pasta sauce, the cheese, and the hot sauce and stir.
  5. Place the mixture in the oven, cover and bake for forty minutes.

What to Serve With the Meal

Often families tend to serve garlic bread with this traditional dish. To make the meal a little healthier, skip the garlic bread and offer a healthy alternative. A nice side salad, with fresh seasonal vegetables and a light dressing, such as balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Add some nuts or fresh berries to the salad to make a well rounded meal.

The copyright of the article A Healthier Baked Ziti in Recipes is owned by Laura Block-Stewart. Permission to republish A Healthier Baked Ziti in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.