Baked Ziti with Ground Turkey and Broccoli

Another easy peasy make-ahead meal! This dish is PACKED with flavor and will be sure to please the whole family!

Yields 4-6 servings, nice big family meal!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of avocado oil

• 16 oz box of ziti

• 1 large onion, diced

• 4 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 lb of ground turkey

• 1 cup of fresh basil, chopped

• 2 heads of broccoli, cut into florets

• 2 red bell peppers, 1-inch dice

• 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning

• Salt & pepper

• 1 jar of Rao's marinara sauce

• 1 1/2 cups of fresh mozzarella, shredded

• 1/2 cup of cottage cheese (or you can use 15 oz of ricotta)

• 1 large egg

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Cook ziti until al dente (about 10-12 minutes)

3. Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for several minutes, or until starting to soften. Add ground turkey, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned.

4. Add broccoli and peppers and season with Italian seasoning.

5. Once softened, add marinara sauce and stir and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Turn heat off and allow to cool.

6. In a separate bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, 1 1/2 cups of the grated mozzarella, egg, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times (do not mix completely).

7. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cool water to stop the cooking. Pour it into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss. Add the cooled meat sauce and toss to combine.

8. Add the coated pasta to a large casserole dish or lasagna dish and then top with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, or until bubbling. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle chopped basil over the pasta before serving.