Homemade Ground Turkey Pasta Bake (Printer-friendly)

Comforting turkey and pasta casserole with melted cheese and savory tomato sauce, ready in under an hour.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta

→ Meat

02 - 1 lb ground turkey

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 cup baby spinach, chopped

→ Sauce

07 - 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
08 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
09 - 1 tsp Italian seasoning
10 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Cheese

12 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
13 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Garnish

14 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or parsley

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until just al dente, about 1-2 minutes less than package directions. Drain well and set aside.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 6-7 minutes.
04 - Add diced onion, minced garlic, and red bell pepper to the skillet with the turkey. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
05 - Stir in chopped baby spinach and cook for 1 minute until just wilted.
06 - Pour in marinara sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine and simmer for 3-4 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
07 - Add cooked pasta to the skillet with the turkey sauce. Mix in half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until evenly distributed.
08 - Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top.
09 - Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted and beginning to bubble around the edges.
10 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its the kind of dinner that makes everyone rush to the table when they smell it bubbling away
  • You get that comfort food satisfaction without the post meal heavy feeling thanks to lean turkey
  • Lunch the next day might be even better than dinner, if it lasts that long
02 -
  • I once skipped the tomato paste and the sauce was noticeably thinner and less rich
  • Overcooking the pasta before baking is the biggest mistake people make with this recipe
  • The 5 minute rest period seems pointless but makes serving so much neater
03 -
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of using pre grated for way better melting
  • Let the cheese bubble and brown in spots for maximum flavor

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