Rustic Italian Turkey Meatball Marinara
The Dish
This simple, easy, and satisfying meal hits all the comfort food highs. Homemade turkey meatballs, seasoned with garlic and basil, are baked to fork-tender goodness. The marinara sauce is a tasty combination of crushed tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, and basil, low-simmered for maximum infusion of flavor. The meatballs and sauce are spooned and topped over cooked, whole-wheat penne pasta. For our fans of meal prepping and planning, there are oodles of prep ahead steps to cut the overall time of this recipe down significantly. Â
Prepping Ahead/Time-Saving Tips
The meatballs can be made well in advance. They can either be assembled and raw or assembled, baked, chilled, and refrigerated (or frozen). Simply reheat when ready to serve and enjoy. Cooking your pasta noodles ahead of time (cooling and refrigerating) is also a big time saver.
Time:
20 Minutes
Difficulty:
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Ingredients
- pan release spray
- 3 oz. lean ground turkey
- 1 tsp. garlic | peeled and minced
- ½ tsp. italian seasoning
- 1 tsp. fresh basil | chopped
- ½ cup canned crushed tomatoes
- ¼ tsp. italian seasoning
- ½ tsp. garlic peeled and minced
- 1 cup whole wheat penne cooked according to the instructions on the package
Getting it done:
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Step 1
Preheat oven to 400°F or 200°C. Line a small baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly grease with pan-release spray.
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Step 2
Place ground turkey in a medium bowl; add 1 tsp (3g) garlic, ½ tsp (2g) Italian seasoning, and 1 tsp (1g) fresh basil. Stir to combine, and then form into even meatballs.
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Step 3
Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, place in the oven, and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through.
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Step 4
Place the crushed tomatoes in a small saucepan; add 1 tsp (3g) garlic, ½ tsp (2g) Italian seasoning, and 1 tsp (1g) fresh basil. Stir to combine, and bring to a low simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and set aside.
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Step 5
Place cooked pasta noodles on a plate, top with tomato sauce and meatballs. Enjoy.