Description
This juicy ground turkey pasta recipe is a healthy and flavorful meal perfect for weeknight dinners. Learn the secrets to keeping your ground turkey moist and delicious in this easy-to-follow guide.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 pound pasta (spaghetti, penne, or your favorite shape)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Season with salt and pepper. Drain any excess fat and set the ground turkey aside.
- In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chopped onion and red bell pepper and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the skillet. Stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld.
- While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet with the tomato sauce. Add the cooked ground turkey back to the skillet. Toss everything together to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce. Serve immediately, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, add a tablespoon of tomato paste to the sauce while it’s simmering.
- If you like a bit of sweetness, add a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, or spinach to the sauce for extra nutrients.
- To make it a healthy turkey spaghetti, use whole wheat pasta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 380 Kcal
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: ground turkey pasta, turkey pasta, healthy pasta, ground turkey recipe, spaghetti, pasta recipe, weeknight dinner, easy dinner, healthy turkey spaghetti