Baked Penne With Turkey Meatballs Recipes

PENNE WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl add bread crumbs milk and mix until well combined. Mix in eggs and 1/2 cup Romano cheese and mix well. Add turkey and gently combine, being careful not to overwork the meat. Season with salt and pepper. Shape into golf-size balls.
• In a large skillet heat the oil over medium high heat. When almost smoking, add meatballs and without moving or turning the meat, allow it to brown for about 3 minutes. Turn meatballs and brown other side. Continue to cook until all sides are golden brown, about 8 minutes total. Add tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Lower heat and allow meatballs to simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and keep warm on stove. Be careful not to overhandle the meatballs since they are soft and fragile.
• In a large pot, bring to a boil 6 quarts of salted water. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain pasta in a colander. Do not rinse pasta with water since you want to retain the pasta natural starches so that the sauce will cling to the penne.
• Remove meatballs from sauce and place in serving bowl. Pour some tomato sauce over meatballs, but leave about 1 cup of sauce in skillet. Place the cooked penne into the skillet with the remaining sauce and toss well. Pour sauced pasta into a large serving bowl. Serve alongside the meatballs.
• In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5-10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors. Add half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce. If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to six months.

PENNE WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl add bread crumbs, milk and mix until well combined.
• Mix in eggs and 1/2 cup Romano cheese and mix well.
• Add turkey and gently combine, being careful not to overwork the meat.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Shape into golf-size balls.
• In a large skillet heat the oil over medium heat.
• When almost smoking, add meatballs and without moving or turning the meat allow it to brown for about 3 minutes.
• Turn meatballs and brown other side.
• Continue to cook until all sides are golden brown.
• Add tomato sauce and bring to a boil.
• Lower heat and allow meatballs to simmer for 5 minutes.
• Turn off heat and keep warm on stove, be careful not to overhandle the meatballs since they are soft and fragile.
• In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of salted water to boil.
• Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.
• Drain pasta, do not rinse pasta with water.
• Remove meatballs from sauce and place in serving bowl.
• Pour some tomato sauce over meatballs, leaving 1 cup sauce in skillet.
• Place the cooked penne into the skillet with the remaining sauce and toss well.
• Pour pasta into a large serving bowl and serve alongside of meatballs.

BAKED PENNE WITH MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Place the onions, tomato sauce, broth, and all of the seasonings in a 9×13" baking dish. Stir to combine (carefully so the sauce doesn't splash over the sides). Add the penne and press it down into the sauce. It should be completely submerged. If it isn't add a little more broth.
• Spread the meatballs over the top and lightly press them into the pasta and sauce. They don't need to be completely submerged. If any of the penne pop up above the sauce, press them back in.
• Cover the pan with foil and bake the pasta for 45 minutes. After the time is up, take the pan out of the oven and remove the foil. Carefully stir the pasta and meatballs. Place the pan back in the oven (uncovered) and bake the pasta for 15 minutes.
• Take the pan out of the oven and sprinkle the cheese over the top. Pop it back in the oven for about five mintues or until the cheese is melted. Let the baked pasta stand for a few minutes. Garnish with the parsley, if using, and serve.

PENNE WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, add bread crumbs, eggs, milk, 1/2 cup Romano, parsley, salt and pepper and mix well. Add turkey and gently combine, being careful not to overwork the meat. Shape into golf-size balls.
• In a large skillet heat the oil over medium high heat. When almost smoking, add meatballs and without moving or turning the meat, allow it to brown for about 3 minutes. Turn meatballs and brown other side. Continue to cook until all sides are golden brown, about 8 minutes total. Add tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Lower heat and allow meatballs to simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and keep warm on stove. Be careful not to over handle the meatballs since they are soft and fragile.
• In a large pot, bring to a boil 6 quarts of salted water. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain pasta in a colander. Do not rinse pasta with water since you want to retain the pasta's natural starches so that the sauce will cling to the penne.
• Remove meatballs from sauce and place in serving bowl. Pour some tomato sauce over meatballs, but leave about 2/3 cup of sauce in skillet. Place the cooked penne into the skillet with the remaining sauce and toss well. Pour sauced pasta in a large serving bowl. Serve alongside the meatballs. Sprinkle remaining Romano on top.

TURKEY MEATBALLS AND RICOTTA BAKE WITH PENNE

Steps:

• For the meatballs, mix all meatball ingredients together adding in enough bread crumbs to bind the mixture together.
• Form into about 1-inch size balls.
• In a large skillet heat oil and cook the meatballs, shaking the skillet until browned and cooked through (about 6-7 minutes) transfer the meatballs to paper towels to drain.
• Cook the penne in a large pot of boiling salted water until JUST firm-tender; drain.
• Set oven to 375 degrees.
• Grease a 4-quart baking dish.
• In a small bowl mix together shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
• Spoon about 1-1/2 cups sauce in the bottom of the baking dish, then spread half of the meatballs on top of sauce.
• Then spoon HALF of the pasta on top.
• Spread HALF of the remaining sauce and HALF of the cheese mixture over pasta.
• Top with remaining meatballs and then drop dollups of ricotta cheese over meatballs.
• Spread remaining pasta over the ricotta.
• Top with remaining sauce, and then sprinkle with remaining mozza/Parmesan mixture.
• Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until golden.
• Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.