cooco logo
Search icon
Notification icon
Ground turkey pasta

Ground turkey pasta

By Stefano Serra
10’ Prep time
20’ Cook time
30’ Total time
645 Calories
4 Serving

Summary

If this doesn’t scream dinner, i don’t know what does. we’ve been all about the easy ground turkey recipes lately (hello high protein and low fat!) and this one tops our list — and my toddler’s 🤓. he loves a big bowl of this ground turkey pasta with parmesan on top.
Stefano Serra 0 Followers

Step by Step

Check circle icon

Step 1

Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta. Cook the pasta until al dente. Before straining the pasta, set aside 1 cup of starchy pasta water. Strain the pasta. Rinse the pasta with cold water and set aside for later.
Check circle icon

Step 2

Heat a large skillet over medium/high heat. Add olive oil. When the olive oil is fragrant, add the onion to the pan and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of salt. Sauté the onion for 2-3 minutes and then add the garlic to the pan. Toss with the onion and cook for an additional 1 minute.
Step 3
Check circle icon

Step 3

When the garlic is fragrant add the ground turkey to the pan and sprinkle with the Italian seasoning. Break the ground turkey up into small pieces and cook the turkey until it is almost cooked but has bits of pink still left.
Check circle icon

Step 4

Add the tomato sauce and ½ cup of the starchy pasta water to the pan and stir to combine. Next, add the tomato paste and anchovy paste to the pan and whisk the two ingredients into the tomato sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Step 5
Check circle icon

Step 5

Turn the heat to low and allow the tomato sauce to simmer and continue to cook the ground turkey (about 4-6 minutes). Taste the sauce and add ¼ teaspoon more of salt to the sauce. If you desire more salt, add ¼ teaspoon more at a time until you’re satisfied.
Check circle icon

Step 6

While the sauce is still on a low simmer, slowly add in the heavy cream, while constantly stirring the tomato sauce until combined.
Step 7
Check circle icon

Step 7

Finally, fold the pasta into the tomato sauce. Let the noodles heat up in the sauce.
Check circle icon

Step 8

Top with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley and enjoy.

Tips and Warnings

  • Check the ingredient list in your Italian seasoning: The homemade Italian seasoning we make and use in this recipe includes salt and garlic. If you are using a store-bought Italian seasoning, check to see if it has salt listen in the ingredients. You may need to add more salt and/or garlic to the sauce as many store-bought Italian seasonings are salt-free.
  • Make sure to save starchy pasta water: After boiling your pasta, remember to reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water to add to the sauce later — it helps thicken the sauce perfectly.
  • Whisk ingredients thoroughly: Be sure you thoroughly whisk the tomato paste and anchovy paste into the sauce and then bring the sauce to a simmer. This is important to really cook down the ingredients.

Ingredient

  • Garlic cloves
    Garlic cloves
    5
  • Heavy cream
    Heavy cream
    59.15 ml
  • Tomato paste
    Tomato paste
    44.36 ml
  • Grated parmesan cheese
    Grated parmesan cheese
    118.29 ml
  • Olive oil
    Olive oil
    14.79 ml
  • Salt
    Salt
    4.93 ml
  • Canned tomato sauce
    Canned tomato sauce
    425.24 g
  • Medium yellow onion
    Medium yellow onion
    1
  • Anchovy paste
    Anchovy paste
    9.86 ml
  • Fresh chopped parsley
    Fresh chopped parsley
    59.15 ml
  • Ground turkey
    Ground turkey
    0.45 kg
  • Homemade italian seasoning
    Homemade italian seasoning
    44.36 ml
  • Medium dried pasta shells
    Medium dried pasta shells
    226.8 g
  • Starchy pasta water
    Starchy pasta water
    118.29 ml
  • Homemade italian seasoning
    Homemade italian seasoning

Nutrition Facts

View nutrition facts
User Avatar Cooco Assistant

Press Start button to talk to assistant