Ground Turkey Pasta Skillet Recipe – Love pasta but want to lighten up your classic recipes? Try this easy, flavorful ground turkey pasta recipe. The ground turkey adds a healthier spin to the traditional Italian favorite without sacrificing flavor. The ground turkey sauce is infused with savory herbs, tomato, onion, and garlic and tossed with freshly cooked pasta for a family meal that’s ready in less than 30 minutes. Dig in and enjoy!
Table of Contents
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Ingredients list for the ground turkey pasta recipe
- 8oz (225g) dry pasta of your choice (we used cellentani pasta)
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and black pepper
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 bay leaves
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ground turkey pasta recipe
This ground turkey pasta recipe is a great way to get a hearty, healthy meal on the table in no time. Our recipe calls for ground turkey, spaghetti noodles, crushed tomato, celery, onion, garlic, and a mix of herbs and spices.
To prepare, simply cook the vegetables in a skillet and brown the ground turkey before adding the crushed tomato and spices. Simmer the whole mixture while the pasta is cooking, then combine the sauce and pasta together straight in the pan for a delicious and satisfying meal that the whole family will love.
With its flavorful ingredients and quick preparation, this ground turkey pasta is a winner!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
1. To make the ground turkey pasta recipe: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute until the edges are golden – about 2-3 minutes.
2. Add chopped onions, carrot, and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Add ground turkey and cook until browned, about 5-8 minutes, making sure to crumble the turkey as it cooks; season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, add the bay leaves, and reduce heat to low; simmer, stirring occasionally, with a lid slightly ajar, until the turkey meat sauce has thickened, about 20-25 minutes.
5. In the meantime, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package instructions; drain well.
6. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the turkey meat sauce. Give a good stir and reheat for one minute or two. Adjust seasoning if needed. Remove the bay leaves.
7. Sprinkle fresh basil, black pepper, and grated parmesan if you like. Serve the turkey pasta immediately. Enjoy! ❤️
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the ground turkey pasta recipe
- Use a large, chunky pasta shape such as penne or rotini so it holds a lot of sauce!
- If the sauce gets too thick, you can add a few tablespoons of chicken broth.
- This pasta recipe is also amazing when using lean ground beef or ground sausage in place of ground turkey.
- For a truly unique flavor, add a few tablespoons of pesto or sun-dried tomatoes.
- You can save a bit of the pasta cooking water to add to the ground turkey sauce to help bind all the ingredients together.
- Make sure to dice the carrot and celery into small pieces so that cook quickly.
How to give more flavor to ground turkey?
In addition to fresh garlic and onion, add garlic powder and onion powder when cooking the turkey to add a more rounded flavor. Also, feel free to use herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and oregano along with bay leaves.
How to keep the turkey pasta leftovers?
You can keep the ground turkey pasta leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days in your refrigerator. Reheat on the stove or microwave with a few drops of water to loosen the sauce.
More ground turkey recipes
- 12 Easy Ground Turkey Recipes That Satisfy Any Hunger
- Slow Cooker Ground Turkey Ragu
- Garlic Butter Ground Turkey with Cauliflower Skillet
- Turkey Cabbage Egg Roll Soup
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
