My ground turkey pasta is a versatile, easy-to-make pasta recipe perfect for busy weeknights. It’s a crowd-pleaser that combines the hearty, satisfying pasta with lean protein, all smothered in a delicious tomato sauce.
I also like to add mushrooms and bell peppers to give it depth of flavor, add fiber, and sneak in some seasonal produce. Much like my roasted tomato and bell pepper pasta and my chicken fajita pasta!
It comes together with fridge and pantry staples such as canned tomato sauce, beef broth, Italian seasoning, garlic, and veggies!
But one of the best things about this recipe is its simplicity. With just a few basic ingredients and straightforward steps, you can quickly prepare a delicious, homemade meal. It’s one of my family’s go-to recipes for a satisfying weeknight dinner, and it doubles as a perfect meal prep recipe, too!
Ground turkey can make a quick, budget-friendly and nutritious addition to classic pasta dishes. With its mild flavor ground turkey takes particularly well to bold, robust seasonings. Knowing how to season ground turkey for pasta allows you to transform this lean meat into a zesty, flavor-packed component that complements any pasta dish beautifully.
In this article, I’ll share my top tips and tricks for seasoning ground turkey for pasta to give you flavorful, crowd-pleasing results every time.
Why Choose Ground Turkey for Pasta
There are several advantages to using ground turkey in pasta recipes
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Lower in fat and calories: Ground turkey is a healthier alternative to ground beef, providing plenty of protein with less saturated fat and calories. This makes it ideal for lighter, fresher-tasting pasta dishes.
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Mild flavor Ground turkey has a milder taste than beef or pork meaning it absorbs seasoning flavors readily without overpowering pasta sauces.
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Quick cooking: Ground turkey cooks faster than many other ground meats, helping streamline busy weeknight pasta dinners.
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Budget-friendly: Ground turkey tends to cost less than other ground meats. Using turkey instead of beef or sausage can help keep pasta meal costs down.
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Versatile: Ground turkey works well in a wide variety of pasta recipes from tomato-based sauces to creamy Alfredos. Its neutral taste lets the other ingredients shine.
Picking the Right Ground Turkey
When selecting ground turkey for pasta recipes, opt for the following:
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Lean ground turkey: Choosing turkey that is 93% lean or leaner will prevent greasiness and excess fat in your pasta dish. Fattier options can become heavy or oily.
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Ground breast meat: Ground turkey made solely from the breast will have the mildest taste to complement pasta best. Dark meat turkey has a more distinctive flavor.
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Unseasoned: Opt for plain ground turkey without pre-added seasonings, which could clash with the flavors in your pasta sauce. It’s easier to control the seasoning when starting with an unseasoned product.
Key Seasonings for Pasta with Ground Turkey
When cooking ground turkey for pasta, you’ll want spices and herbs that can stand up to the meaty texture and complement the other sauce ingredients. Here are some key seasonings to consider:
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Italian seasoning: A blend of oregano, basil, thyme, and other Italian herbs is perfect for quintessential Italian-style turkey pasta dishes.
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Crushed red pepper flakes: These add a touch of heat and zing to ground turkey. They work well in tomato-based pasta sauces.
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Garlic powder: This provides a punch of garlicky flavor and aroma without the hassle of chopping fresh garlic. It pairs wonderfully with ground turkey.
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Onion powder: Much like garlic powder, onion powder infuses turkey with savory onion notes without using fresh onion.
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Dried parsley: The bright, earthy flavor of this herb livens up turkey and prevents heaviness. Dried parsley has a stronger taste than the fresh version.
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Smoked paprika: A small sprinkle of smoked paprika gives ground turkey a subtle smoky undertone and rich color. A little goes a long way with this intense spice.
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Dried oregano: Oregano has an assertive herbal quality that stands up well to turkey. It’s especially tasty in tomato-based pasta sauces.
Handy Equipment for Cooking Ground Turkey
Having the right tools makes cooking ground turkey for pasta easy:
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Large skillet: A spacious 12-inch skillet provides plenty of room for browning and crumbling ground turkey. Nonstick finishes help prevent sticking.
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Wooden spoon: Use a sturdy wooden or silicone spoon to break up and stir ground turkey as it cooks on the stovetop. Metal spoons may scratch nonstick pans.
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Splatter screen: Covering the skillet with a splatter screen contains grease pops and splatters as the turkey cooks, keeping your stovetop cleaner.
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Tongs: Have tongs on hand for easy turning and moving of the turkey. Tongs allow you to grab and crumble meat safely.
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Digital food thermometer: Using an instant-read thermometer ensures ground turkey reaches the minimum safe internal temperature of 165°F.
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Colander: Drain excess turkey grease after browning by pouring it through a fine mesh colander.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Seasoned Ground Turkey
Follow these simple steps for perfectly browned, seasoned ground turkey for pasta every time:
1. Prep ingredients: Thoroughly combine desired spices, herbs, salt, and pepper into the raw ground turkey. Allowing 10-15 minutes for flavors to absorb maximizes the seasoning.
2. Heat skillet: Warm a drizzle of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Make sure the pan and oil are hot before adding turkey.
3. Brown turkey: Crumble seasoned turkey into pan, using a wooden spoon to break up any large clumps. Cook 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.
4. Drain excess grease: Once turkey browns, transfer it to a colander and allow fat to drain off. Wipe out the pan to remove excess grease.
5. Return turkey to pan: Add back the browned, drained turkey to pan and proceed with your recipe as directed, whether finishing up a sauce or adding pasta and vegetables.
6. Cook thoroughly: Continue cooking until ground turkey reaches the safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F.
Ground Turkey Pasta Recipe Inspiration
Seasoned ground turkey shines in all types of comforting yet healthy pasta dishes. Here are just a few recipe ideas to consider:
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Zesty tomato turkey Bolognese: Cook ground turkey with onions, garlic, oregano, crushed red pepper, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and broth for a lighter take on classic Bolognese. Toss with pasta and Parmesan.
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Creamy turkey Alfredo: Sauté garlic, onion, turkey, spinach, and spices like nutmeg and parsley, then stir in Alfredo sauce and pasta shapes like fettuccine.
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Taco turkey pasta: Brown spicy ground turkey with onions, chili powder, cumin, and peppers. Add in cooked pasta shells, black beans, corn, and Cheddar for a Mexican pasta bake.
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Greek turkey bowties: Sauté oregano-seasoned ground turkey and spinach, diced tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and feta cheese. Toss with bowtie pasta.
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Turkey pesto penne: Cook garlic-and-basil flavored ground turkey, then mix with pesto sauce and penne. Garnish with Parmesan and pine nuts.
With the right seasoning approach, ground turkey can be exciting instead of bland in your favorite pasta dishes. Use the tips in this article to add hearty, protein-packed flavor to all your pasta creations using lean, budget-friendly ground turkey.
Can I use a gluten-free pasta?
Yes! Lentil pasta, chickpea pasta or your favorite gluten-free pasta works well. These pastas typically provide more protein and fiber which is great, too!
Pour it all in!
Add in the tomato sauce and broth; bring it to a simmer. Then add the cooked ground turkey…we’re almost done!
Gordon Ramsay’s Ultimate Turkey Pasta in Under 10 Minutes
FAQ
How do you add flavor to ground turkey?
Do you season ground turkey before or during cooking?
How to season a turkey for best flavor?
Can you pre season ground turkey?
How do you season a ground turkey with Italian seasoning?
Add your Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic & onion powder, salt and pepper with ¼ cup of water to your ground turkey. Stir to make sure the meat is fully coated with seasoning. Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and a little sugar with another ½ cup of water. Stir well.
What are the health benefits of ground turkey?
Ground turkey has multiple benefits. It is a good source of minerals, and B vitamins, rich in proteins, low in fat and it is lower in calories than common turkey.
What is ground turkey pasta?
It’s savory, cheesy, meaty, and so filling! Ground turkey pasta checks all boxes for quick and easy comfort food. It’s cheesy, savory, and so incredibly filling. Using ground turkey helps pump up the protein without completely undoing your diet. What I love most about this recipe is that it uses a few hacks to make that canned pasta sauce sing.
How do you make ground turkey pasta sauce?
Ground turkey pasta sauce is loaded with three kinds of tomatoes and healthy low-fat ground turkey. Brown ground turkey with onion and garlic until no pink remains. (Drain fat if needed). Add remaining ingredients (except parsley & basil) slightly breaking up the tomatoes.