Spaghetti with Ground Turkey

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.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword pasta dinner, turkey

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Servings

Calories 328kcal

Author Elizabeth Rodriguez

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