Baked Pasta with Ground Turkey

Real comfort is not just a pasta dish. It’s a baked pasta dish! Something magical and miraculous happens in the oven when all the flavors of a simple pasta dish smothered in cheese gets bubbly and melted. That magical thing is this baked turkey pasta!

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 lb lean ground turkey
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1/2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
• 2 cups marinara sauce store-bought or homemade
• 1/4 cup fresh basil plus more for garnishing
• 12 oz whole wheat pasta shells
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.

• Cook whole wheat pasta shells according to package instructions, drain and set aside.

• In a cast iron skillet or other oven safe skillet, heat the oil over medium heat, add the onions and ground turkey and cook until the turkey is browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and Italian seasoning, and cook for another 2 minutes until well combined.

• Add in the marinara sauce, fresh basil and then stir in the cooked pasta.

• Top with mozzarella cheese and bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 15-20 minutes.

• Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately.