Description
A rich and creamy pasta dish made with tender ground turkey, a velvety cheese sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta. This one-pan meal is easy to make and packed with flavor, making it a great choice for busy weeknights or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta & Meat:
- 12 oz pasta (rigatoni, penne, or your favorite type)
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Sauce:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Cheese & Garnish:
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, then reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining. Set aside.
- Brown the Ground Turkey: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Make the Sauce: Pour in the marinara sauce and broth, stirring to combine. Add heavy cream and red pepper flakes, bringing everything to a gentle simmer. Stir in the cooked ground turkey and let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes.
- Melt the Cheese: Lower the heat and gradually stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Add grated Parmesan cheese and mix well.
- Combine Everything: Toss the cooked pasta in the sauce, stirring to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water.
- Garnish & Serve: Remove from heat, garnish with fresh parsley or basil, and serve hot with extra Parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes