This Ground Turkey Pasta recipe is a cozy, one-pan meal that brings together lean ground turkey, tender shell pasta, and a rich tomato-cream sauce. It's hearty, flavorful, and perfect for busy nights when you want comfort without the extra effort.
This ground turkey pasta has become one of my favorite weeknight dinners because it's hearty, flavorful, and quick to make. The creamy tomato sauce has that perfect balance, comforting but not heavy, while the ground turkey brings a gentle richness that makes it satisfying without feeling too rich. It's the kind of dish that feels special even on a busy night, and somehow, it always leaves everyone at the table happy.
What I enjoy most about this pasta is how practical it is, it's easy, budget-friendly, and adaptable. I often toss in leftover veggies from the fridge or swap the pasta shape depending on what I have on hand. The sauce comes together quickly, coating every bite of tender pasta and lean ground turkey in that rich, creamy tomato blend. It's warm, comforting, and a meal I can count on to please the whole family, no matter how hectic the day's been.
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⭐Why You'll Love My Recipe
- Uses Simple Ingredients: Most of these are pantry staples or fridge basics, nothing fancy or hard to find.
- It's a One-Pan Kind of Meal: While the pasta cooks in one pot, everything else comes together in one pan for easy cleanup.
- Perfect for Busy Nights: You can have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes, and it feels comforting and complete.
🧾Ingredients
You'll find the exact measurements in the recipe card, but here's a closer look at a few of the ingredients and why I use them.
- Pasta: I like using medium shell pasta because it holds the sauce beautifully, though penne or fusilli work just as well.
- Turkey & Seasoning: Ground turkey keeps it light yet hearty. I season it as it browns with salt, pepper, paprika, red pepper flakes, and a touch of Italian seasoning for that warm, herby flavor.
- Sauce: I start with extra virgin olive oil, white onion, red bell pepper, and plenty of garlic for depth. Then I add tomato paste, tomato sauce, and a bit of chicken broth, letting everything simmer into a rich, comforting sauce.
- Cream & Cheese: A splash of heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan make it creamy and smooth, while torn basil leaves at the end bring that fresh, aromatic touch I love.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Ground Turkey Pasta
You can find the complete printable recipe with measurements below, but for now, here's a quick overview of how it goes:
1. Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large pan over medium heat, then cook the diced onion and red bell pepper for 4-5 minutes until softened.
2. Add minced garlic, cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then stir in ground turkey, breaking it up. Cook for 5-6 minutes until browned, seasoning with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning.
3. Stir in the tomato paste and sauce, cooking for 5 minutes to enhance the flavor.
4. Pour in the chicken broth and let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to blend and the sauce to thicken slightly.
5. Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, cooking for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens.
6. While the sauce cooks, bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook until al dente.
7. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. If needed, mix in a bit of pasta water for a smoother consistency.
8. Serve hot, topped with fresh basil and a sprinkle of Parmesan.
💭My Tips for Recipe Success
Let the Sauce Rest Before Serving: I turn off the heat and let everything sit for 3-5 minutes before serving. It thickens slightly, and the flavors mellow into something really nice.
Finish with a Drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Just before serving, I sometimes add a small drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil on top; it adds a subtle richness and brings out the herbs.
Use a Mix of Parmesan and Pecorino: If I have both on hand, I like mixing them for a deeper, saltier flavor that really boosts the sauce.
Store Leftovers in Glass Containers: I find the pasta holds up better and doesn't absorb as much sauce when stored in glass instead of plastic.
🍝More Pasta Recipes to Try!
If you love this ground turkey pasta, you'll also enjoy these tasty pasta recipes:
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Pesto Pasta
- Homemade Mac and Cheese
- Gigi Hadid Pasta
- Chicken Alfredo Pasta Fettuccine
🍛More Dinner Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite dinner recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Ground Turkey Pasta
Ingredients
- 250 g Medium Shell Pasta - Or Pasta of Choice
- 3 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 White Onion - Diced
- 1 Red Bell Pepper - Diced
- 4 Cloves Garlic - Minced
- 500 g Ground Turkey
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 2 tablespoon Tomato Paste
- 400 g Tomato Sauce
- 240 ml Chicken Broth
- 120 ml Heavy Cream
- 50 g Parmesan Cheese - Grated
- Fresh Basil
Instructions
- Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion and red bell pepper, and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the ground turkey, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned.
- Season with salt, pepper, paprika, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning.
- Stir in the tomato paste and tomato sauce, and cook for 5 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Pour in the chicken broth, bring to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Meanwhile, boil a large pot of salted water and cook the shell pasta until al dente.
- Add the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese to the turkey sauce and stir for 1-2 minutes until creamy.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce, tossing to coat well.
- Add a splash of pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil and extra Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Paulina says
Looks delicious! Love how easy and flavorful this ground turkey pasta is. Perfect for a quick dinner!