Creamy Ground Turkey Pasta
This creamy ground turkey pasta combines lean ground turkey, shell pasta, tomato sauce, Parmesan, and cream for an easy weeknight dinner ready in just 30 minutes. Rich, comforting, and packed with flavor, it's a simple meal the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 250 g medium shell pasta or pasta of choice
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium white onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 500 g ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 400 g tomato sauce 1 can
- 240 ml chicken broth
- 120 ml heavy cream
- 50 g freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Heat 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium white onion, diced, and 1 red bell pepper, diced, and cook for 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in 4 cloves garlic, minced, and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add 500 g ground turkey, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook for 5–6 minutes until browned. Season with 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, 1 tsp paprika, ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, and 1 tbsp Italian seasoning. Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and 1 can 400 g tomato sauce, and cook for 5 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Pour in 240 ml chicken broth, bring to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Meanwhile, boil a large pot of salted water and cook 250 g medium shell pasta until al dente.
- Add 120 ml heavy cream and 50 g freshly grated 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
Brown the Turkey Well: I like letting the ground turkey cook for a minute or two before breaking it apart too much. It gives the meat better flavor.
Don’t Rush the Tomato Sauce: I always give the tomato paste and tomato sauce a few minutes to cook before adding the broth. It makes the sauce taste deeper and less flat.
Save a Little Pasta Water: I like keeping some pasta water nearby because it helps loosen the sauce without making it watery.
Use Fresh Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan melts much better into the sauce and gives this creamy ground turkey pasta a smoother finish.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, then reheat gently with a splash of broth, water, or cream.
Nutrition
Calories: 679kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 1621mg | Potassium: 1085mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 2367IU | Vitamin C: 50mg | Calcium: 241mg | Iron: 4mg
