Penne and Meatball Casserole

Whole wheat pasta and lean ground turkey come together in this hearty casserole made with penne and meatballs.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 410 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 dash garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• cooking spray
• 1 dash salt
• 2 tablespoons seasoned bread crumbs
• ¼ cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• ¾ cup uncooked whole wheat penne pasta
• 2 tablespoons egg substitute
• ¼ pound lean ground turkey
• ¾ cup meatless spaghetti sauce
• ¼ cup low-fat (2%) cottage cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a baking sheet and a 1-quart baking dish with cooking spray.

Step 3

Meanwhile, combine bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, egg substitute, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and garlic powder in a bowl. Crumble turkey on top and mix well. Shape mixture into 1/2-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the centers, 9 to 11 minutes. Drain off excess grease.

Step 5

Drain penne. Combine baked meatballs with spaghetti sauce in a bowl. Spoon 1/2 the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with 1/2 of the cooked penne, cottage cheese, and mozzarella cheese, plus 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers. Cover with a glass lid or aluminum foil.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, 20 to 25 minutes.