This one pot ground turkey spaghetti is just the recipe you need on a busy weeknight! Made with simple ingredients from your pantry, this turkey spaghetti recipe is quick, flavorful, and easy to make. A simple meat sauce cooked with pasta all in one pot, this is a meal everyone will love.
This one pot turkey spaghetti is a simple but delicious pasta dinner that you can whip up in no time. This homemade spaghetti sauce is made with turkey instead of beef or pork, so its a lightened version of a classic. No one will even notice its ground turkey!
Spaghetti with meat sauce is a classic, satisfying dinner. But preparing beef or pork sauce can be time-consuming on busy weeknights. Ground turkey makes a quick, healthier alternative when seasoned properly. The key is choosing herbs and spices that enhance the turkey’s mild flavor. Follow this guide to learn foolproof techniques for seasoning ground turkey spaghetti with delicious, homemade taste.
Benefits of Ground Turkey Spaghetti
Using ground turkey instead of beef or pork provides several advantages
- Leaner option with less saturated fat
- Cooks faster than meat sauces from scratch
- More budget-friendly than beef or sausage
- Versatile ingredient for adding protein
- Mix of spices gives flavor comparable to traditional meats
Essential Seasonings for Ground Turkey
The right blend of Italian herbs and spices is key for flavorful spaghetti sauce.
- Oregano – Earthy, herbal taste
- Basil – Fresh, slightly peppery flavor
- Garlic powder – Adds richness, depth
- Onion powder – Provides subtle sweetness
- Crushed red pepper – For a touch of heat
- Fennel seed – Licorice-like accent
Salt and black pepper are also vital for enhancing overall flavor,
Seasoning Tips for Best Results
Follow these tips when seasoning ground turkey for spaghetti:
- Combine spices beforehand for even distribution.
- Generously coat raw turkey as it cooks to infuse flavors.
- Cook over medium heat to allow spices to fully absorb.
- Add more broth or pasta water if sauce seems dry.
- Simmer completed sauce for 5 minutes to blend flavors.
- Taste and tweak seasoning before serving as needed.
Proper seasoning techniques prevent bland or underwhelming flavor.
Complementary Ingredients
In addition to herbs and spices, ingredients like garlic, onion and red wine complement seasoned ground turkey sauce:
- Saute minced garlic and onion before adding turkey.
- Deglaze pan with red wine after browning meat.
- Use mushroom or roasted garlic pasta sauce variety.
- Top with grated parmesan, fresh basil or parsley.
Helpful Serving Suggestions
Seasoned ground turkey spaghetti pairs deliciously with
- Cheesy garlic bread or breadsticks
- Fresh green salad or Caesar salad
- Sauteed zucchini noodles or roasted vegetables
- Glass of Chianti wine or Italian soda
Common Seasoning Mistakes
Avoid these common pitfalls when seasoning ground turkey:
- Adding too little seasoning results in a bland dish.
- Over seasoning with strong spices like oregano or crushed red pepper.
- Not allowing enough time for flavors to fully absorb into meat.
- Forgetting to season again after simmering sauce.
- Using spices that fight or clash with tomato flavor.
With the right blend of Italian herbs and spices, you can transform mild ground turkey into a flavorful, protein-packed Bolognese sauce. Follow these seasoning tips for tasty spaghetti that even meat sauce lovers will enjoy. Mangia!
How To Make This Turkey Spaghetti Recipe
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the diced onion to the skillet. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes to soften.
- Push the diced onions to the side of the pan, creating an empty spot in the middle, and add the ground turkey to the skillet.
- Stir and break up the meat, first in the middle section, then mixing in the onions.
- When half-way browned, add the minced garlic, salt, pepper, and dried basil to the turkey and continue to cook.
- When mostly cooked, add the dried spaghetti noodles to the skillet.
- Add the passata sauce and chicken broth to the skillet and cover with a lid. Increase the heat and bring the mixture up to a boil. Then, using tongs, and nudge the noodles around a bit to help the noodles cook more evenly. If any noodles are clumped together, try to separate them. Cover and continue to cook for 5 minutes, and repeat the process to separate the noodles around the sauce.
- Bring the heat down to a simmer and simmer for another 5 to 6 minutes or until the noodles are cooked through.
- Give the turkey spaghetti and a good mix and garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley or basil as desired and serve. Top with grated parmesan if desired.
- You can use another ground meat or a mixture of ground meat if you dont have enough turkey on hand.
- Add additional veggies to the pasta. You can saute some shredded carrots with the onions or add some frozen peas or spinach to the sauce near the end.
- I use a 3.5-Qt braiser, so the dried spaghetti noodles fit across the pot easily. However, if youre using a pot that has a smaller surface area, you can break the spaghetti noodles in half to fit them in the pot.
- This turkey spaghetti pairs well with Air Fryer Garlic Bread, Parmesan Brussels Sprouts, Air Fryer Broccoli, and Instant Pot Tomato Soup!
- Make sure to add the noodles, tomato sauce, and broth to the ground turkey immediately. You do not want the ground turkey to dry out.
Fridge: I store my spaghetti in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezer: I like to freeze my spaghetti in one-cup portions, so I can grab single servings as needed straight from the freezer. I use Souper Cubes to help with that. To cook from frozen, you can either thaw it in the fridge the night before, microwave it on high in the microwave until it’s ready, or reheat it from frozen on the stovetop with a bit of liquid. You can use code “CARMY10” to save 10% off Souper Cubes on their website!
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 660 mL passata sauce
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 8 ounces dried spaghetti
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the diced onion to the skillet. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes to soften.
- Push the diced onions to the side of the pan, creating an empty spot in the middle, and add the ground turkey to the skillet.
- Stir and break up the meat, first in the middle section, then mixing in the onions.
- When half-way browned, add the minced garlic, salt, pepper, and dried basil to the turkey and continue to cook.
- When mostly cooked, add the dried spaghetti noodles to the skillet.
- Add the passata sauce and chicken broth to the skillet and cover with a lid. Increase the heat and bring the mixture up to a boil. Then, using tongs, and nudge the noodles around a bit to help the noodles cook more evenly. If any noodles are clumped together, try to separate them. Cover and continue to cook for 5 minutes, and repeat the process to separate the noodles around the sauce.
- Bring the heat down to a simmer and simmer for another 5 to 6 minutes or until the noodles are cooked through.
- Give the turkey spaghetti and a good mix and garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley or basil as desired and serve. Top with grated parmesan if desired.
Why You’ll Love This One Pot Recipe
- This one pot pasta recipe comes together in around 30 minutes or less! Its perfect for a busy weeknight. Plus, this turkey spaghetti recipe being made in one pot means theres less washing up to do as well.
- Despite using simple pantry ingredients, this ground turkey spaghetti is loaded with flavor.
- This one pot turkey spaghetti recipe is practically foolproof! It comes together in a few easy steps all in one pot. After a quick saute, you just let everything simmer in a pot.
- oil — you can use your oil of choice. I use olive oil.
- onion — you can use as much or little onion as youd like. I use a small yellow onion.
- garlic — I believe the more garlic, the better!
- ground turkey — I use extra lean ground turkey, but you can use a fattier ground turkey if you prefer. While you can use any ground meat, this is turkey spaghetti!
- salt and pepper — I recommend kosher salt.
- passata sauce — passata sauce is a tomato-based sauce that involves cooking fresh tomatoes, removing their skins and seeds, and pureeing the remaining pulp. The sauce is then strained to create a smooth, thick texture without any bits of skin or seeds.
- chicken stock — or chicken broth. Itll add extra flavor to your pasta sauce.
- dried basil — if you have fresh basil, great. But dried basil is always available in my pantry so its more convenient.
- spaghetti — depending on the size of your pot, you might have to break your dried spaghetti noodles in half.
Turkey Spaghetti That Your Grandma Would Be Proud Of!
FAQ
How do you add flavor to ground turkey?
You can rub your turkey with lemon or orange juice and then spices besides salt and pepper. You could also try barbecue sauce.Apr 12, 2017
What seasoning to put on ground turkey for spaghetti?
Add your Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic & onion powder, salt and pepper with ¼ cup of water to your ground turkey. Stir to make sure the meat is fully coated with seasoning. Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and a little sugar with another ½ cup of water.
What to season your meat with when making spaghetti?
Here’s a simple and effective way to season ground beef for spaghetti: Ingredients: Salt – Enhances flavor. Black Pepper – Adds warmth and depth. Garlic Powder – For a savory, aromatic flavor. Onion Powder – Complements the garlic and adds sweetness. Dried Oregano – A classic herb for Italian dishes.
Is ground turkey good in spaghetti sauce?
- Flavor: Ground turkey can add flavor to spaghetti sauce.
- Health: Ground turkey is a good source of protein and has fewer calories than ground beef.