One Skillet Cheesy Ground Turkey Pasta

This Cheesy Ground Turkey Pasta dish is a fast and tasty one skillet recipe made with lean ground turkey that’s simmered in a creamy tomato broth base and topped with cheese. Serve it with our New York style Garlic knots for a perfect weeknight meal.

Why This Recipe Works

When I asked what recipes you wanted in our Facebook group you said “easy” and “weeknight”. So I give you both!

We are using lean ground turkey (less red meat is better), spices and penne pasta that all simmers together in a creamy chicken broth and tomato base, all in the same skillet. You know how much I love that!

Let’s get started, shall we?

Ingredients

• Penne Pasta: Although penne pasta is the go-to for this recipe, you can also use a different kind of your choice. I found the penne holds up well with the chunks of turkey.
• Seasonings: Sea salt, pepper, garlic, Italian seasoning, dried parsley, and sugar come together to create the traditional Italian pasta taste.
• Vegetables: Onion and yellow pepper add both flavor and texture to the penne pasta.
• Cheese: You’ll use two types of cheese – Mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese. But this is not the golden rule. I think Gouda is my favorite cheese of all time or even a smoked cheese would change things up here.
• Sauce: The sauce is created using a combination of olive oil, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and half and half cream.
• Turkey: Ground lean turkey gives this recipe a slightly meaty taste without being overpowering, plus it cuts down on saturated fat you would find with ground beef.

Easy Step-by-Step Directions

• Step One – Sauté the onions and peppers. Add the ground turkey and garlic. Add the seasonings and flour. Add the chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, water, sugar, and remaining salt.
• Step Two – Add the penne pasta.
• Step Three – Cook uncovered until al dente.
• Step Four – Turn the heat to low and add half and half.
• Step Five – Slowly add the cheese a handful at a time until melted.
• Step Six – Cover the pasta with a lid and allow the cheese to continue melting and the pasta to continue absorbing the liquid for approximately 10 minutes.

How to Serve One Skillet Cheesy Turkey Penne Pasta

• This one-skillet meal can be served as is; however, you can’t go wrong by pairing it with some garlic bread (like our garlic knots).
• You can also top it with extra fresh parsley, shredded cheese, or a dash of crushed red pepper.
• Side options to consider are steamed broccoli or other veggies of your choice.

Recipe FAQs

• Can I use a different kind of meat in this recipe? Of course! Ground beef, ground chicken, or ground sausage can be used in place of the turkey.
• How can I make this even more healthy? Add more veggies! Consider adding more bell peppers (like red peppers) and baby spinach to the recipe.
• Can I use whole wheat pasta? Yes! In fact, that would make it even healthier!
• How do I store the leftovers? Any leftover pasta can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It also freezes well for up to 3 months when kept in a freezer-safe container or bag.

Looking for more Weeknight Meals. Try these:

Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet – similar to this recipe but it uses ground beef and elbow macaroni (think Hamburger Helper)

Turkey Lettuce Wraps – low carb and sinfully addictive

Healthy Weeknight Turkey Chili – less fat than beef but all the flavor

Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest and if you’ve had a chance to make this cheesy turkey pasta dish, then definitely leave me a comment and a rating below!

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