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One-Pot Ground Turkey Pasta

There's something almost magical about pulling off a rich, satisfying pasta dinner using just one pan and under 40 minutes of your time. This One-Pot Ground Turkey Pasta is proof that weeknight cooking doesn't have to be a trade-off between taste and effort. Savory turkey, tender pasta, and a velvety parmesan cream sauce all come together in a single vessel — and cleanup is barely worth mentioning.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 medium Yellow onion finely diced
  • 4 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 lb Ground turkey 85% or 93% lean recommended
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) Diced tomatoes fire-roasted preferred
  • 2 ½ cups Low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
  • 2 cups Short pasta shells, rotini, or penne — dry, uncooked
  • 1 ½ tsp Italian seasoning
  • ¾ tsp Salt or to taste
  • ½ tsp Black pepper freshly ground
  • ⅓ cup Heavy cream
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 2 cups Fresh baby spinach loosely packed
  • tbsp Fresh basil chopped, for garnish

Instructions
 

  • 1. Sauté the aromatics — Warm a large deep skillet or shallow Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and let it heat through. Add the diced onion and cook for 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and just translucent. Add the minced garlic and stir for about 1 minute until fragrant.
    2. Brown the turkey — Push the onion and garlic to one side of the pan. Add the ground turkey and let it sit undisturbed for 2 minutes to develop some color. Then break it apart and continue cooking until no pink remains and the internal temperature approaches 165°F.
    3. Add tomato paste — Stir the tomato paste into the cooked turkey and let it cook for about 1 minute, stirring continuously. This step deepens the savory base of the sauce.
    4. Build the sauce and add pasta — Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, dry uncooked pasta, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together until evenly combined.
    5. Simmer until pasta is cooked — Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, until the pasta is just shy of al dente. If the liquid absorbs too quickly before the pasta finishes, add broth in ¼ cup increments as needed.
    6. Finish with cream, parmesan, and spinach — Stir in the heavy cream, grated parmesan, and fresh spinach. Keep stirring until the cheese fully melts and the spinach wilts into the sauce. The sauce will thicken slightly — this is normal.
    7. Rest and garnish — Remove the pan from heat immediately. Scatter the chopped fresh basil over the top and let the dish rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.

Notes

  • Pasta type affects cook time: Protein-enriched or whole wheat pasta often cooks 1–2 minutes faster than regular pasta. Watch texture, not just the clock.
  • Sauce too thin? Stir in extra parmesan — it acts as a natural thickener. The sauce also continues to tighten as it cools, so don't rush it.
  • Sauce too thick? Loosen it with a small splash of reserved cream or extra broth, stirred in gradually.
  • Don't linger on the heat: Once the pasta is almost al dente, work quickly. The residual heat in the pan will keep cooking everything after you remove it from the burner, so pull it off just before it's exactly where you want it.
  • Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. Can be frozen, though pasta may soften slightly after thawing.
  • To reheat: Microwave individual portions for 90 seconds to 2 minutes, stirring halfway. Or bake in a shallow dish at 350°F for 15–20 minutes.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 670kcal, Carbohydrates: 59g, Protein: 45g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 140mg, Sodium: 836mg, Potassium: 1108mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 1418IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 234mg, Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Keyword creamy turkey pasta, easy weeknight dinner, ground turkey pasta, one pan dinner, one pot pasta, turkey pasta recipe