A recipe for a semi-homemade Pasta Sunday that’ll still leave you feeling like a culinary goddess!

[ingredients title=”Ingredients”]

• One package of dry pasta of choice (I like a thicker noodle like linguine, bucatini, or fettuccini.)
• 1.5-2 jars of Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 cup basil (optional)
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

[/ingredients]

[directions title=”Directions”]

1. Cook the ground turkey all the way through and break up into TINY bits. IMO, the smaller, the better.
2. Transfer to a deep pot and stir in Rao’s sauce. It depends how saucy or concentrated your like your pasta, if you like a thinner sauce, only go for a jar, or a jar and a half. If you like it really sauced up, do the full two jars.
3. Simmer until you’re ready to serve.
4. Cook your pasta according to package instructions. If you’re like me, you do al dente, no exceptions.
5. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
6. Combine pasta water and pasta with the meat and sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Garnish with basil and parm, duh.

[/directions]

I ALWAYS have ground turkey in the freezer, and a pantry with a reserve of Rao’s and dried pasta. Days like today (Mother’s Day!) when I want the Pasta Sunday experience, but am too tired or lazy to get a full meal together. This dish always wins.