Ground Turkey Pasta
This recipe is a weeknight hero! It’s my go-to for a delicious, hearty meal with minimal cleanup. Inspired by classic Italian-American flavors, it delivers a rich, creamy sauce in a fraction of the time by cooking everything in a single pot. It’s truly a warm hug in a bowl.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-30 minutes
- Total Time: 30-40 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 750 g (1.6 lbs) ground turkey (7% fat)
- 1 tbsp Italian herb seasoning
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 large celery stalks, diced
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp gluten-free soy sauce or tamari
- 10 oz dried gluten-free penne
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast (or parmesan cheese)
- 2 ½ cups chicken or beef stock
- 1 can (15 oz | 400g) diced tomatoes
- 2 cups spinach
- Red chili flakes and fresh herbs for topping (optional)
Instructions
Instructions
- Brown the Turkey: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, breaking up the meat until it’s no longer pink.
- Sauté the Veggies: Add the diced onion, carrot, celery, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring until the vegetables are soft and fragrant. Stir in balsamic vinegar and tamari, and cook for 1 minute to deglaze the pan.
- Simmer the Pasta: Stir in the uncooked penne, canned tomatoes, and stock. Gently press the pasta into the liquid. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 7-8 minutes.
- Finish the Sauce: Remove the lid and stir in the nutritional yeast (or parmesan). The sauce will thicken. Turn off the heat and add the spinach on top. Cover again for 1 minute to wilt, then stir until fully incorporated.
- Serve: Taste and season with salt as needed. Serve immediately, topped with chili flakes or fresh herbs if you like.
Notes
- Serving Suggestions: This pasta is a complete meal on its own. For a side, a simple green salad and some crusty garlic bread are a great choice.
- Tips & Tricks: Using a good quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar will really elevate the flavor. You can also swap the ground turkey for ground beef or a vegetarian substitute. Any short pasta like rotini or fusilli works well.
- Storage: Let leftovers cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. For longer storage, the sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, warm on the stovetop with a splash of water or stock.
Find it online: https://new.projuktigeek.com/ground-turkey-pasta/