Mezzi Rigatoni with ground Turkey is a great choice, If you want a pasta dish that looks and sounds gourmet. Pasta is a beautiful thing that comes in so many shapes and sizes. Adding spinach and fresh grape tomatoes and butter, adds a freshness to this dish that highlights the pasta and adds a delectable sauce. In our family this is called the “no leftover meal”.
Preheat a large skillet on medium heat and add 3 tbsps. olive oil, ground turkey garlic and onion. Cook for 5-8 minutes, breaking meat into pieces and stirring occasionally. Then add black pepper, Italian seasonings, cumin, cayenne pepper and salt. When fully cooked, set aside in a bowl.
Cook pasta by bringing a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the pasta just until al dente, according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Add remaining olive oil and grape tomatoes, garlic and salt and let cook for about 5 minutes. Mash them with your cooking utensil. Next add tomato puree and remaining Italian seasoning to sauce. Reduce the heat to medium low, cover and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring a few times.
Add pasta, cooked ground turkey, ½ the butter and one handful of spinach and stir.
Add the remaining butter and spinach, mix and serve.
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Notes
Substitute ground chicken for ground turkey.
You can use gluten free pasta, whole wheat pasta or chickpea pasta.
Make it dairy-free by substituting with dairy-free butter and serve with dairy free parmesan.