Homemade Ground Turkey Pasta Bake (Printable)

Comforting casserole with lean turkey, pasta, and cheesy tomato sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prep.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta (use gluten-free if desired)

→ 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 (optional)
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 (optional)

# How to Prepare:

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 al dente according to package directions. Drain well and set aside.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook for 6-7 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and completely cooked through.
04 - Add diced onion, minced garlic, and red bell pepper to the skillet with the turkey. Reduce heat to medium and sauté for 4-5 minutes until vegetables are softened.
05 - Stir in chopped spinach and cook for 1 minute until just wilted.
06 - Pour in marinara sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and simmer for 3-4 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
07 - Add cooked pasta to the skillet (or transfer everything to a large bowl). Mix in half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan cheese until evenly distributed.
08 - Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Spread evenly and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
09 - Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbly, and beginning to turn golden brown.
10 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of dinner that makes people ask what's for dinner again tomorrow
  • Ground turkey keeps it lighter than beef while still delivering that comforting, protein-packed satisfaction
  • The leftovers somehow taste even better after the flavors have had time to become friends overnight
02 -
  • Don't overcook the pasta initially because it will continue cooking in the oven and nobody wants mushy noodles
  • Ground turkey can sometimes release a lot of liquid, so drain the excess fat before adding the vegetables
  • Letting it rest for those 5 minutes seems impossible but makes the difference between a cohesive slice and a sloppy pile
03 -
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of the pre-grated stuff for way better melting and flavor
  • Room temperature ingredients help everything bake more evenly
  • If the top is browning too fast, loosely tent with foil for the last 10 minutes

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