Description
These zesty turkey and ricotta meatballs are tender and flavorful, served over garlic spinach rigatoni for a hearty weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional for zest)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- For the Rigatoni:
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced
- 5 oz fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- For the Sauce:
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For Serving:
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the rigatoni according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, ricotta, panko, egg, minced garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan. Mix until just combined. Form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs in batches and cook until browned on all sides, about 8-10 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
- In the same skillet, add sliced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add marinara sauce, oregano, red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
- Return meatballs to the skillet. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through.
- Meanwhile, in another large pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add cooked rigatoni and reserved pasta water; toss to combine.
- Serve meatballs and sauce over garlic spinach rigatoni. Top with additional Parmesan.
- Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
For extra zest, add lemon zest to the meatball mixture. You can substitute ground pork or chicken for turkey. Make sure not to overmix the meatballs to keep them tender.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Method: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Fat: 24 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Protein: 38 g