Baked Rotini with Turkey Meat Sauce and Mozzarella

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-21 · Updated 2026-05-21

A baked pasta casserole combining lean turkey meat sauce with melted mozzarella for a hearty, kid-friendly dinner. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs rotini pasta, ground turkey, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 6, 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

• 10 oz rotini pasta
• 1 lb ground turkey
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small, finely diced yellow onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 10 oz rotini pasta and cook for 7 minutes until al dente, then drain and set aside.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 small finely diced yellow onion and sauté for 4 minutes until translucent.
3. Step 3: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in 1 lb ground turkey, breaking it up with a spatula, and cook for 5-6 minutes until no longer pink.
4. Step 4: Stir in 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes until thickened.
5. Step 5: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rotini with the turkey meat sauce, stirring gently to mix.
6. Step 6: Transfer half of the pasta mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish, sprinkle 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella evenly over it. Add the remaining pasta mixture on top and finish with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
7. Step 7: Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly with golden spots. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.