Description
A comforting dish featuring tender turkey ricotta meatballs served over garlicky spinach rigatoni, perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 cup fresh ricotta cheese
- 4 cups spinach (fresh or frozen)
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh herbs (basil, parsley), chopped
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the rigatoni according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat, add minced garlic and chopped spinach. Sauté until spinach wilts, then set aside to cool slightly.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cooled spinach-garlic mixture with ground turkey, ricotta cheese, breadcrumbs, egg, and herbs. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg; mix until combined.
- Shape the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs. In the same skillet, add more olive oil and brown the meatballs over medium heat until golden on all sides.
- Add a splash of reserved pasta water to the skillet, cover, and let the meatballs simmer for about 10 minutes.
- In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked rigatoni and meatballs, adding more pasta water if necessary to create a light sauce. Toss gently to combine.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh Parmesan and herbs.
Notes
For a vegetarian twist, substitute ground turkey with ground chicken or a plant-based option. Letting the meatball mixture rest in the fridge for 30 minutes enhances flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Turkey Meatballs, Ricotta, Pasta, Italian, Comfort Food, Family Dinner