Cheesy Tomato Basil Pasta with Ground Turkey

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A kid-friendly pasta dish featuring lean ground turkey, sun-dried tomatoes, and a creamy tomato-basil sauce that melts into every strand. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs penne pasta, ground turkey, marinara sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Cook 8 oz penne pasta in salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until al dente; drain and reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium; add 1/2 diced onion and 2 minced garlic cloves, cooking 3 minutes until soft and fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Add 1/2 lb ground turkey, breaking it apart with a spoon; cook 5-6 minutes until no longer pink, then stir in 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 1 cup marinara sauce and 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes; simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors.
  5. Step 5: Add drained penne pasta, 1/4 cup fresh basil, and 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella to skillet; toss until cheese melts and pasta is evenly coated.
  6. Step 6: Serve hot, sprinkled with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

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