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Creamy Tomato Basil Turkey Pasta
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Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Large Skillet
  • Colander
  • Wooden Spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz penne pasta
  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Grated parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  • While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3 minutes until it softens.
  • Add the ground turkey to the skillet. Break it up with a spoon and cook until it is no longer pink, about 5 to 6 minutes.
  • Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  • Pour in the tomato sauce, salt, and black pepper. Let the mixture simmer for 4 minutes.
  • Reduce the heat to low and slowly stir in the heavy cream until the sauce turns a light orange color and looks smooth.
  • Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss until every piece is coated with sauce.
  • Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the chopped basil. Serve right away with grated parmesan on top.

Notes

If the sauce thickens too much after sitting, add a splash of the pasta cooking water to loosen it. You can swap the heavy cream for half-and-half if that is what you have on hand, though the sauce will be slightly less rich. Leftovers reheat gently on the stove with a little extra cream or milk to bring back the creamy texture.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Equipment: Large Pot, Large Skillet, Colander, Wooden Spoon