Baked Meatball Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-09 · Updated 2026-04-09

Hearty baked meatballs in a mild tomato-basil sauce with tender pasta, designed to make picky eaters reach for seconds without the fuss. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs spaghetti, ground turkey, bread crumbs for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 560 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 12 oz spaghetti
• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup marinara sauce
• 1/4 cup tomato basil pasta sauce
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, combine 1 lb ground turkey, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 1 egg, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Form into 20 meatballs.
3. Step 3: Place meatballs on baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and cooked through.
4. Step 4: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain.
5. Step 5: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup marinara sauce and 1/4 cup tomato basil pasta sauce, stirring to combine.
6. Step 6: Add drained spaghetti and baked meatballs to skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes until heated through and sauce coats pasta evenly.