Description
Hearty Ground Turkey Pasta blends Italian-inspired comfort with wholesome ingredients for a quick, satisfying meal. Lean protein and robust seasonings create a delightful dinner you’ll crave repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
Pasta and Dairy:
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Seasonings, Liquids, and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- Fresh parsley for garnish
- Red chili flakes for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook pasta until it’s slightly underdone, approximately 2 minutes less than package instructions.
- Before draining, carefully reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water for later use.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, creating a smooth cooking surface.
- Sauté diced onions until translucent and softened, releasing their sweet aromatics, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it into small crumbles and cooking until completely browned and no pink remains.
- Generously season the meat with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning, ensuring even distribution of flavors.
- Introduce minced garlic to the pan, stirring quickly to prevent burning and allowing its pungent essence to bloom, approximately 45-60 seconds.
- Dust flour over the meat mixture, stirring thoroughly to create a light coating that will help thicken the sauce.
- Pour in chicken broth and tomato sauce, reducing heat and allowing the mixture to simmer and develop rich, complex flavors.
- Incorporate cooked pasta and half-and-half into the sauce, gently mixing to ensure even coating.
- Sprinkle half of the cheese blend into the pasta, stirring until partially melted and integrated.
- Distribute remaining cheese across the top of the dish, creating an even layer.
- Cover the skillet and let cheese melt completely, creating a smooth, glossy surface.
- Finish by garnishing with fresh chopped parsley and a light dusting of red chili flakes for added visual appeal and subtle heat.
Notes
- Choose lean ground turkey to reduce fat content and create a healthier version of the dish.
- Reserve extra pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed, helping create perfect creamy texture.
- Use gluten-free pasta and replace flour with cornstarch for a celiac-friendly alternative.
- Swap half-and-half with Greek yogurt or plant-based cream for lower-calorie or dairy-free options.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg