Make a Simple Weeknight Meal: Ground Turkey with Jarred Spaghetti Sauce

The easiest ground turkey spaghetti you’ll find, this recipe combines 6 simple ingredients like garlicky marinara sauce, a few simple spices, and ground turkey for a flavor packed meal that’s nearly effortless! So simple and full of flavor it’s a protein packed and satisfying meal and includes instructions for cooking on the stovetop in just 30-minutes, as well as for a hands-off simmer in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.

Spaghetti with meat sauce is a classic family-friendly dinner. But on busy weeknights you may not have time to simmer the sauce for hours or make meatballs from scratch. That’s where this quick and easy ground turkey spaghetti recipe comes in!

Why Choose Ground Turkey?

Ground turkey offers a lighter and healthier alternative to ground beef in pasta sauce. Here are some of the benefits of using ground turkey:

Leaner than ground beef. Ground turkey is lower in saturated fat and calories while still providing lots of flavor and protein This makes it a smart, waistline-friendly swap
Versatile and budget-friendly. Ground turkey is inexpensive and readily available at any grocery store. It can be used in place of ground beef in recipes like chili, burgers, meatloaf, tacos, and more.
Nutrient-dense. Turkey provides important nutrients like selenium, niacin, vitamin B6, and zinc. Using ground turkey boosts the nutritional value of a classic dish like spaghetti.

How to Cook Ground Turkey for Pasta Sauce

Cooking ground turkey so it’s flavorful and not dry does take a little technique. Follow these tips:

Choose 93% lean ground turkey. The higher fat content keeps it moist during cooking. Extra lean turkey can become dried out and grainy.
Brown the turkey thoroughly. Cook over medium heat until no pink remains and the turkey has browned. This enhances the meaty flavor.
Drain excess fat. After browning, drain away any accumulated fat to keep the dish lighter.
Don’t overcook. Once browned, add the sauce and simmer just until heated through. Extended cooking times can dry out the turkey.
Season well. Boost the turkey’s flavor with Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, and pepper as it browns. This adds lots of spice and aroma.

Why Use Jarred Spaghetti Sauce?

Jarred pasta sauce makes this recipe come together quickly on busy weeknights. Here are some of the perks:

Saves prep time. No need to simmer tomatoes all afternoon – just open a jar! Making homemade sauce from scratch takes hours.
Provides consistent flavor. Popular brands like Rao’s and Prego offer sauces with amazing, authentic Italian taste.
Adds convenience. Keep a few jars in the pantry so dinner is ready in 20 minutes anytime. No planning ahead required.
Allows customization. Doctor up basic marinara sauce with extra garlic, herbs, mushrooms or other mix-ins to suit your family’s preferences.
Offers quality ingredients. Many leading brands use vine-ripened tomatoes and avoid additives like high fructose corn syrup.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for incredible ground turkey spaghetti in under 30 minutes:

Prep the Ingredients

1 lb 93% lean ground turkey
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
24 oz jarred marinara sauce
12 oz spaghetti noodles
Grated parmesan cheese

Cook the Ground Turkey

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onions for 3-5 minutes until translucent.
Add the ground turkey. Break it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
Sprinkle with garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned.

Simmer the Sauce

Pour the jarred marinara sauce into the skillet.
Allow it to come to a gentle simmer.
Reduce heat and let simmer for 10 minutes for the flavors to meld.

Boil the Noodles

As the sauce simmers, cook the spaghetti noodles according to package directions.
Drain the noodles well and toss them with the sauce.

Finish and Serve

Divide the saucy spaghetti between plates.
Garnish with grated parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper.

That’s all there is to it! In about 30 minutes, you can have a hearty, homemade meal on the table using convenient ingredients.

Flavor Variations

The beauty of this easy recipe is that it can be adapted in endless ways:

For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes or chili powder to the sauce.
For extra flavor, brown the turkey in the sauce with chopped mushrooms.
For bright freshness, stir in chopped basil or baby spinach before serving.
For more texture, top with shredded mozzarella or crispy panko breadcrumbs.

Use your favorite jarred marinara flavor as the base – traditional, garden vegetable, roasted garlic, etc. Then customize it to suit your tastes.

Cooking Shortcuts

If you want to cut down the hands-on time even further, here are some shortcuts to try:

Use pre-chopped onions and minced garlic instead of chopping your own.
Look for “ready to heat” sauces that just need to be warmed through.
Microwave the spaghetti noodles for a quicker boil.
Use a wide, shallow pan to brown the turkey faster over higher heat.
Skip browning the turkey and just simmer it in the sauce for 10 minutes.

Meal Prep and Freezer Tips

Make your weeknights even simpler by preparing this ahead:

Cook a double batch of sauce. Freeze half for later up to 3 months.
Portion out ingredients in freezer bags to throw together on busy nights.
Pre-cook the spaghetti noodles. Cool, toss with a little oil, and refrigerate to reheat.
Prepare several servings of sauce at once. Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze.
Let individual portions thaw overnight in the fridge then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

With some easy advance preparation, you can have homemade ground turkey spaghetti ready in minutes anytime!

The Verdict?

Ground turkey with jarred marinara sauce makes a fast, family-friendly, and nutritious alternative to traditional meaty spaghetti. In less than 30 minutes, you can have a filling dinner using pantry staples. Customize the recipe with your favorite vegetables, seasonings, or pasta shapes. This new go-to weeknight meal is sure to become a regular in your dinner rotation!

ground turkey with jar spaghetti sauce

3 Cooking Method Options

I tested 3 different cooking methods for this spaghetti with turkey meat and am sharing them all with you in the recipe below depending on how much time you have and what you’re looking for.

The stove-top option is the quickest (comes together in 30 minutes), so it’s a perfect last-minute meal. While it comes together fast, I will say that the turkey isn’t as tender and the sauce’s flavor isn’t as developed as the other cooking methods.

The slow cooker method is probably my favorite since it’s hands-off and produces a sauce that has that rich, slow-cooked flavor with tender turkey. I also have a slow cooker spaghetti sauce if you’re looking for a spaghetti sauce with beef.

The instant pot method offers another hand-off option that results in tender meat and delicious sauce, and it comes together a bit faster than the slow cooker method. Just make sure to read the instructions carefully so as not to burn the sauce.

Easy Variations & Substitutions

Low carb: To make this a low carb dinner, serve the spaghetti sauce on top of zucchini or squash noodles.
Gluten free: Swap the spaghetti with gluten-free spaghetti or your favorite gluten-free noodle.
Turkey marinara sandwich: Serve this hearty sauce in a sub and top with fresh mozzarella.
Add more veggies: Sneak in some additional veggies for picky eaters. Riced cauliflower, diced zucchini, shredded carrots, or diced mushrooms all work really well in this recipe.
Stuffed shells: Instead of the beef sauce in my stuffed shells, use this lighter ground turkey sauce.
Swap the meat: While this is a great recipe for ground turkey, you can use another ground meat if you prefer, such as lean ground beef or ground chicken.
Substitutions: If you don’t have fresh garlic, granulated garlic works well. Similarly, if you don’t have Italian seasoning, use a mixture of dried basil, dried oregano, and dried parsley.

ground turkey with jar spaghetti sauce

Delicious Low Fat Spaghetti Sauce using Ground Turkey + Tips for a non-sticky Pasta | Mansa Queen

FAQ

What can you add to jar spaghetti sauce to make it better?

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

What can I add to ground turkey for taste?

How do you add flavor to ground turkey? Turkey meat can be flavored with easy ingredients like kosher salt and pepper, bell peppers, garlic powder, and olive oil. If you’re cooking meat, specifically turkey taco meat, hot sauce and enchilada sauce are your best mates.

Should you simmer jarred spaghetti sauce?

Once your meat and veggies are seasoned and cooked, you can add the jar of your favorite sauce, tomato paste, the canned tomatoes and remaining seasonings. The sauce then gets simmered for 20 minutes and then you can toss in a handful of parmesan cheese for even more yumminess!