Garlic Penne Pasta w/Spinach & Turkey Meatballs | Signature Recipe

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

ground turkey

🥗Healthier: ground chicken

💰Cheaper: ground beef

Ground chicken is leaner, while ground beef is often less expensive.

Add ground turkey to a large bowl.

Add seasoning salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, black pepper, and olive oil to the ground turkey.

Mix the ingredients lightly, then add parsley and mix well.

Form meatballs by taking a small amount of the meat mixture, rolling it into a ball, and placing it on a baking sheet.

Smash garlic cloves to prepare for peeling, then remove the skins.

Remove basil leaves from stems and roughly chop them, placing them in a small prep bowl.

Cut grape tomatoes lengthwise and place them in a larger bowl for later use.

Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to a preheated skillet over medium-high heat.

Add handfuls of baby spinach to the skillet in batches, cooking until wilted, adding garlic powder halfway through.

In a separate pot, add olive oil to boiling water, then add salt and penne pasta, cooking for about 11 minutes or until al dente.

Remove cooked spinach from the skillet and set aside on a paper plate.

In a large pot, add a shallow bath of olive oil and toss in garlic cloves to caramelize them.

Once garlic is caramelized, remove it from the pot and set aside.

Place meatballs into the hot garlic oil and sear on all sides until fully cooked, checking for a golden brown color.

Remove pasta from the stove, strain it, and add a little olive oil to prevent sticking.

Check the meatballs for a sear on all sides, then remove them from the pot and place on a paper plate.

Transfer the oil from the pot into a new pot to avoid debris sticking to the pasta.

Add fresh chopped basil to the new pot and stir until softened and aromatic.

Incorporate the caramelized garlic into the basil in the pot, then remove the garlic.

Add spinach, tomatoes, sea salt, black pepper, meatballs, and pasta to the pot.

Add about 4 tablespoons of crushed garlic to the mixture and incorporate until well distributed.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens