Ground Turkey Pasta Bake
Deliver a cozy and satisfying family dinner with this easy baked ground turkey pasta recipe. You'll love the tender penne tossed in a flavorful sauce of zippy tomatoes, lean turkey, and an Italian herb blend.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried pasta
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- pinch red pepper flakes
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms any kind
- 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2-3 cups baby spinach roughly chopped
- 1 and 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- fresh parsley or basil optional garnish
- kosher salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Boil a large pot of water; add a generous pinch of kosher salt and the pasta. Cook for 2 minutes less than directed for al dente pasta. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, warm olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add onions and turkey. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, oregano, red pepper flakes, another big pinch of kosher salt, and 12-15 cranks of fresh-ground black pepper. Cook for about 4 minutes, using a spatula to break the meat up into small crumbles, until the onions are soft and the turkey is mostly browned.
- Stir in the garlic. Cook another 30-60 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Stir in the mushrooms, crushed tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar. Swish a small amount of water in the can of tomatoes to get the last bits of tomato and pour that into the skillet as well. Bring mixture to a simmer. Let it bubble over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes, then remove from the heat and stir in the spinach.
- Add cooked pasta and stir well.
- Stir in about half of the cheese, then spread mixture into an even layer and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until cheese is fully melted and the sauce is bubbling around the edges. For a browned top, turn oven to broil for the final 1-2 minutes; watch closely that it doesn’t burn.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Estimate
Calories: 402 kcal, Carbohydrates: 54 g, Protein: 28 g, Fat: 9 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 48 mg, Sodium: 303 mg, Potassium: 722 mg, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 8 g, Vitamin A: 1088 IU, Vitamin C: 13 mg, Calcium: 182 mg, Iron: 3 mg
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