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Budget Turkey Meatball Pasta

Easy Budget Turkey Meatball Pasta That’s Packed with Flavor

This Budget Turkey Meatball Pasta is comforting, hearty, and budget-friendly, perfect for a quick meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 400

Ingredients
  

Turkey Meatballs
  • 1 pound Ground turkey Choose lean for a healthy option.
  • 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan cheese Adds rich depth.
  • 1 large Egg Acts as a binder.
  • 1/4 cup Fresh parsley Chopped.
  • 2 cloves Minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon Salt For seasoning.
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper For seasoning.
Tomato Sauce and Pasta
  • 1 can Canned crushed tomatoes Flavorful base for sauce.
  • 2 tablespoons Olive oil For sautéing.
  • 1 medium Chopped onion
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Italian herbs Blend of basil, oregano, and thyme.
  • 8 ounces Your choice of pasta Penne, spaghetti, or fusilli.
  • 1 teaspoon Salt For seasoning the sauce and pasta.
  • 1/4 cup Fresh basil Optional for garnish.
Optional Add-ins
  • 1/4 teaspoon Red pepper flakes For a bit of heat.
  • 1/2 cup Grated mozzarella For cheesy finish.

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Baking sheet
  • Large skillet
  • Pot
  • Mixing bowl

Method
 

For the Meatballs
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. In a bowl, mix turkey, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper until just combined.
  2. Roll mixture into 1½-inch balls using damp hands. Place on prepared sheet, leaving space for even cooking.
  3. Bake meatballs for 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway until golden brown and firm.
For the Sauce
  1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cooking until soft, about 3–4 minutes.
  2. Stir in crushed tomatoes, dried Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.
For the Pasta & Assembly
  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook al dente, about 8–10 minutes. Drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.
  2. Nestle baked meatballs into sauce and cook for 5 minutes. Toss in pasta, adding reserved water to loosen sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 28gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 3mg

Notes

For optimal flavor, use fresh herbs when possible and adjust sauce consistency with reserved pasta water.

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