This spaghetti with ground turkey is a budget-friendly dinner that the whole family will enjoy. Made with a mix of fresh and pantry ingredients, it comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Simple, tasty, and sure to become a regular in your dinner rotation, this dish is a winner.
What’s great about this recipe
- Budget-friendly - Ground turkey is an affordable protein that can be substituted for ground beef in many classic recipes, like our ground turkey shepherd’s pie.
- Simple ingredients - This recipe uses a mix of fresh and pantry ingredients that are easy to find, giving you a "homemade" feel without a lot of time.
- Quick and Easy - Comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Family friendly - It’s a dish everyone can agree on, from kids to adults. Serve it with bread and a salad for a feast everyone will love.
Ingredients
- Oil - We use olive oil; choose one with a moderate or high smoke point since we start cooking on medium-high heat.
- Ground Turkey - Choose lean ground turkey; 85/15 or 93/7 will work well. Using turkey breast is not recommended because there’s not enough fat for flavor.
- Produce - Onions (yellow or white) and garlic add flavor to the sauce.
- Pantry - Canned diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and jarred pasta sauce make the recipe quick and easy. For the pasta sauce, choose a meatless variety since we are adding the meat. Spaghetti is the traditional choice, but other pasta shapes will work as well.
- Herbs and Spices - The sauce is simply seasoned with Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Optional Garnish and Serving - Chopped parsley, parmesan cheese, and crushed red pepper will complement the dish (not pictured).
- See the recipe card for quantities and preparation.
How to make spaghetti with ground turkey
- Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a shallow pot or a large, deep skillet. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the turkey and salt. Stir well to combine, then arrange it in one layer. Cook for 3 minutes.
- Stir well. Continue cooking for 3-4 minutes until the turkey is no longer pink and any liquid has cooked away. Stir often while breaking up large pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Lower the heat to medium and add the onions. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the garlic, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and black pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the diced tomatoes and pasta sauce. Stir well while gently scraping any bits off the bottom of the pot.
- Let the sauce come to a simmer (this will take 2-3 minutes). Then, lower the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally and keep the sauce at a simmer. Raise or lower the heat as needed.
In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti to package directions for al dente. Before draining, reserve 1-2 cups of the pasta cooking water. Drain the spaghetti well.
Taste the sauce and add salt if needed. As a reference, we did not add extra to ours. Serve the pasta with the meat sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper, if desired.
Variations and substitutions
- Add extra vegetables - This sauce is a wonderful way to incorporate more vegetables. Try diced bell peppers, carrots, or mushrooms. Sauté them along with the onions. Broccoli, zucchini, yellow squash, and spinach would also be great. Add them in before simmering and covering the sauce. For an all-veggie pasta sauce, try our spaghetti sauce with squash.
- Make it spicy - For a spicier version, add crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce when you add the garlic and tomato paste. Adjust to your preferred heat level.
- Protein swap - If you don’t have ground turkey on hand, substitute with lean ground beef, ground chicken, or even a plant-based meat alternative. Adjust the browning time as needed to ensure your chosen protein is fully browned before continuing with the recipe.
- Pasta alternatives - If you don’t have spaghetti, other pasta shapes like linguine, penne, or rigatoni will also be good.
Storing instructions
- Refrigerate -Allow the spaghetti and sauce to cool. Transfer them to separate airtight containers or combine them in the same containers. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze - Allow the food to cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags. Label with the date and freeze for up to 2-3 months.
- Reheating -From refrigerated, reheat in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through, or microwave in a microwave-safe dish, stirring occasionally. From frozen, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in a saucepan over medium heat or microwave until hot.
- Reheating tips - If the sauce thickens too much during storage or reheating, add 1-2 tablespoons of water or chicken broth to loosen it up. Stir well and add more if needed.
- Always reheat leftovers to a temperature of 165°F. For more information on food storage and safety guidelines, visit U.S. Department of Agriculture and foodsafety.gov.
Recipe tips and notes
- Make sure to brown the ground turkey thoroughly until it is no longer pink and any liquid has cooked out. This starts the flavor base and ensures the best texture and taste for your sauce.
- If you are sensitive to salt, use reduced-sodium pantry ingredients and reduce the seasoning on the turkey if desired. You can taste and adjust at the end if needed.
- Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta cooking water before draining. This starchy water is perfect for loosening up the sauce if it becomes too thick or for making the pasta a bit more slippery if it starts to stick.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, this recipe is great for meal prep. It makes a large batch (approximately 8 servings). Store individual portions in airtight containers. Refrigerate or freeze them and reheat as needed for quick and easy meals. Remember to label and date them.
This spaghetti with ground turkey pairs well with a variety of sides. A simple side salad is a great option to add some crunch and freshness. Garlic bread or a warm baguette is perfect for soaking up the extra sauce. You can also serve it with steamed or roasted vegetables, try this roasted broccoli or bacon green beans to round out the meal.
To enhance the flavor and color of ground turkey, it’s important to add plenty of seasoning. In this recipe, we use aromatic vegetables like onions and garlic, along with Italian seasoning and tomato paste for extra depth. For dishes like turkey chili, strong spices like chili powder and cumin are key.
If you like this recipe, remember that just about any ground beef dish can be made with ground turkey. It’s our go-to because it offers a budget-friendly alternative without sacrificing flavor in our favorite meals. For instance, we use it to make a comforting bowl of turkey meatball soup, a quick and easy ground turkey stir fry, and our popular turkey Salisbury steaks and mushroom gravy. We hope these recipes inspire you to try this affordable and versatile ingredient.
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📖 Recipe
Spaghetti with Ground Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 pound Ground turkey use 85/15 or 93/7, turkey breast is not recommended
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 medium Onion finely diced
- 3-4 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon Tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 (14.5 ounce) Can Diced Tomatoes do not drain (we use petite diced)
- 1 (24 ounce) Jar Pasta Sauce use a meatless variety, choose your favorite brand
- 16 ounces Spaghetti cooked to package directions for al dente
- Chopped Parsley for garnish optional
- Parmesan Cheese for serving optional
- Crushed Red Pepper for serving optional
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a shallow pot or a large, deep skillet. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the turkey and salt. Stir well to combine, then arrange it in one layer. Cook for 3 minutes.
- Stir well. Continue cooking for 3-4 minutes until the turkey is no longer pink and any liquid has cooked away. Stir often while breaking up large pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Lower the heat to medium and add the onions. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the garlic, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and black pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the diced tomatoes and pasta sauce. Stir well while gently scraping any bits off the bottom of the pot.
- Let the sauce come to a simmer (this will take 2-3 minutes). Then, lower the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook the sauce for 30 minutes.
- Stir occasionally and keep the sauce at a simmer. Raise or lower the heat as needed.
- In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti to package directions for al dente. Before draining, reserve 1-2 cups of the pasta cooking water. Drain the spaghetti well.
- Taste the sauce and add salt if needed. As a reference, we did not add extra to ours.
- Serve the pasta with the meat sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper, if desired.
Notes
- Make sure to brown the ground turkey thoroughly until it is no longer pink and any liquid has cooked out. This starts the flavor base and ensures the best texture and taste for your sauce.
- If you are sensitive to salt, use reduced-sodium pantry ingredients and reduce the seasoning on the turkey if desired. Taste and adjust at the end if needed.
- Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta cooking water before draining. This starchy water is perfect for loosening up the sauce if it becomes too thick or for making the pasta a bit more slippery if it starts to stick.
Nutrition
The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
GEORGINA CAMACHO
awesome! love it, delicious, like all your recipes Elizabeth, thank you : )
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Thank you Georgina, that's very kind.