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A close-up of creamy Ground Turkey Pasta with penne noodles, melted Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley in a red skillet.

Rich Ground Turkey Pasta

This rich ground turkey pasta is creamy, comforting, and packed with savory Italian flavors. It’s a hearty weeknight dinner that feels indulgent but easy to make.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp dried basil
  • 1/4 tsp chili flakes optional
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 24 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 12 oz pasta penne, rigatoni, or fusilli
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • fresh parsley or basil chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Large Skillet

Method
 

  1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and cook ground turkey until browned.
  3. Add onion and garlic and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened.
  4. Season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, basil, and chili flakes.
  5. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1–2 minutes.
  6. Add crushed tomatoes and simmer for 10–12 minutes.
  7. Reduce heat and stir in heavy cream until sauce is creamy.
  8. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat evenly.
  9. Remove from heat, stir in Parmesan, garnish, and serve.

Notes

This pasta reheats well and can be customized with spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for extra vegetables.