Turkey Pasta Bake

Name: Turkey Pasta Bake
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon Olive Oil; 1/2 whole Medium Onion, Diced; 1/2 whole Red Bell Pepper, Diced; 2 cloves Garlic, Minced; 1 pound Ground Turkey; 3/4 teaspoons Cinnamon; 3/4 teaspoons Chili Powder; 1/4 teaspoons Nutmeg; 1/2 cups Red Wine; 2 cups Crushed Tomatoes; 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste; 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar; 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano; 8 ounces, weight Whole Wheat Rotini (or Other Short Pasta); 4 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour; 2 cups 1% Milk; 1 pinch Nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoons Garlic Powder; 13 cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese, Divided; Salt And Pepper

20 ingredients

22 steps

Ingredients

1 teaspoon Olive Oil
1/2 whole Medium Onion, Diced
1/2 whole Red Bell Pepper, Diced
2 cloves Garlic, Minced
1 pound Ground Turkey
3/4 teaspoons Cinnamon
3/4 teaspoons Chili Powder
1/4 teaspoons Nutmeg
1/2 cups Red Wine
2 cups Crushed Tomatoes
2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
8 ounces, weight Whole Wheat Rotini (or Other Short Pasta)
4 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour
2 cups 1% Milk
1 pinch Nutmeg
1/4 teaspoons Garlic Powder
13 cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese, Divided
Salt And Pepper

Directions

1

To prepare meat sauce: Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
2

Add onions, bell pepper and garlic and saute for 3 minutes, until beginning to soften.
3

Add ground turkey to pan and cook, breaking up meat, until no pink remains.
4

Add cinnamon, chili powder and nutmeg; cook for 1 minute.
5

Add red wine to pan and simmer uncovered for 2-3 minutes.
6

Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar and oregano.
7

Add salt and pepper to taste.
8

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 20-25 minutes.
9

While sauce is simmering, cook pasta according to package directions.
10

When just al dente drain and set aside.
11

Preheat oven to 375F.
12

While meat sauce is simmering, prepare bechamel: Add flour to a small saucepan.
13

Slowly whisk in 1 cup of the milk so that no lumps remain.
14

Heat over medium heat until bubbles begin to form then add remaining 1 cup of milk, nutmeg and garlic powder.
15

Heat, whisking constantly, until thickened (about 4 minutes).
16

Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese.
17

To assemble: Mix cooked pasta into the meat sauce.
18

Pour into a 9x9 baking dish.
19

Pour bechamel evenly over top.
20

Sprinkle with remaining parmesan.
21

Bake for 30 minutes then enjoy!
22

Optional: At the end of the cook time, pop it under the broiler for a minute to brown up the top.