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Ground Turkey Spinach Pasta Bake - A Cozy, Weeknight-Friendly Dinner

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or ziti)
  • 1 pound ground turkey (93% lean works well)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or a mix of dried oregano and basil)
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce (one large jar) or homemade pasta sauce
  • 1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water
  • 4 cups fresh baby spinach (about 4 ounces)
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese (whole milk or part-skim)
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
  • Nonstick spray or butter for greasing the baking dish

Method
 

  1. Preheat and prep: Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or butter.
  2. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta 1–2 minutes less than the package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside. Toss with a teaspoon of olive oil to prevent sticking.
  3. Sauté aromatics: In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium. Add the onion with a pinch of salt and cook 4–5 minutes until translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Brown the turkey: Add the ground turkey, breaking it up with a spoon. Season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook until no longer pink and lightly browned, 5–7 minutes.
  5. Build the sauce: Pour in the marinara and broth. Stir and let it simmer 3–4 minutes to meld the flavors. Taste and adjust salt or pepper as needed.
  6. Add spinach: Stir in the spinach and cook 1–2 minutes until wilted. Remove from heat.
  7. Mix in cheeses: In a bowl, combine ricotta with half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. This makes the creamy pockets in the bake.
  8. Combine pasta and sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the turkey-spinach sauce. Toss until everything is well coated.
  9. Layer in the dish: Spread half the pasta mixture in the baking dish. Dollop half the ricotta mixture across the top. Repeat with the remaining pasta and ricotta mix.
  10. Top and bake: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan over the top. Cover loosely with foil (tent it so it doesn’t stick to the cheese) and bake 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–12 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden.
  11. Rest and serve: Let the pasta bake rest 10 minutes. Garnish with chopped basil or parsley. Slice and serve warm.