Mexican Pasta Bake

A twist on classic Italian baked ziti, this Mexican Pasta Bake is a great weeknight meal your family will love! Whole grain pasta, lean ground turkey & veggies makes this a light option for pasta lovers.

Click here to pin this Mexican Pasta Bake recipe.

This Mexican Baked Pasta is a recipe is I started making a few years ago while I was following the South Beach Diet.  I was inspired by a recipe that was shared on a South Beach Diet forum on the website iVillage and originally posted it here on the blog back in 2008. Since then, I’ve updated the recipe a bit by using ground turkey this time around and of course by taking new photos. 🙂

It’s such a great recipe and I felt like it deserved a little attention in 2014.

This pasta is a great twist on the classic Italian baked ziti. It’s easy to throw together and if your family loves the flavors and ingredients of Mexican food, then they will love this pasta. I use whole wheat pasta, lean ground turkey and black beans for lots of protein and fiber, then add in some veggies, salsa and a little cheese. I’ve made it several times using regular black beans, but this last time I experimented and added a can of Bush’s new Black Chili Beans for even more flavor – it was delicious!

This is one of those family favorite dinners that are on the same list as Cheesy Southwest Beef Potato Skillet and Chicken Gnocchi Soup!

Print Recipe

Mexican Baked Pasta

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1/2 13 oz of whole wheat penne
• 1 lb of lean ground turkey
• 1 TB olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large bell pepper, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• pinch salt and pepper
• 24 oz jar of salsa (I used Pace chunky mild)
• 1 can Bush's Black Beans, drained and rinsed (or Bush's new Black Chili Beans)
• 2 cups of shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Bring pot of water to boil for pasta, cook according to directions.
3. In large heated non stick skillet, add oil, garlic, peppers and onions. Saute until softened, about 10 minutes. Add ground turkey and brown. Add spices, salt and pepper. Add to a large bowl with black beans, salsa and pasta. Toss to combine.
4. Pour half of pasta mixture into casserole dish. Spread 1 cup of shredded cheese over pasta. Add rest of pasta over cheese and top with remaining cheese. Place in oven and cook for 30-35 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden.

Nutritional Information via My Fitness Pal:  450 calories / 18g fat / 10g dietary fiber / 49g carbohydrate / 29g protein

More healthy baked dishes perfect for weeknights for you to try:

Healthy Stuffed Pepper Casserole | Rachel Cooks

Greek Turkey, Rice and Feta Casserole | Cookin’ Canuck

Healthy Chicken Pot Pie | Well Plated

Follow Aggie’s Kitchen’s board Pasta on Pinterest.

Hope you have a Happy Halloween!!

(Disclosure: Although I do have a working relationship with Bush’s Beans, this post is not sponsored by them. I just used their beans in my recipe!)