Looking for an easy ground turkey recipe? This one-pot pasta comes together in just 30 minutes and is packed with good-for-you ingredients like spinach, tomatoes, and ground turkey!
Healthy Ground Turkey Pasta
30-minute, one-pot pasta meals recipes that are healthy, tasty, and easy enough to make any night of the week make me look a whole lot just like this → 💃💃💃 because guess what?
You many think that because I’m a food blogger, I’m in the kitchen every day, whipping up recipes so that I never have to think twice about what’s for dinner. But the reality is that most days I’m NOT cooking, and when I suddenly realize that it’s not just 5:00 somewhere…it’s 5:00 RIGHT HERE…I panic. Because if I haven’t taken the time to think ahead and do a bit of meal prep, just like my teenager, I’m left wondering what’s for dinner, too.
See, I’m betting I’m a lot like you. A gal who is always juggling my roles as a spouse, mom, daughter, sister, friend, business owner, mentor, volunteer, and wanderer-of-the-aisles-at-HomeGoods-deal-shopper as I continually work on finding the right balance so that my own needs don’t get lost in the shuffle in this circus act called life.
The saving grace? Simple, healthy, bold-flavored, all-in-one meals like this one-pot pasta that don’t require a bunch of hard-to-find ingredients or have too many steps. And bonus points go to the recipe if I can scavenge my pantry for most of it.
With that said, and I don’t want to sound too boastful, but this 30-minute meal recipe made with penne pasta, ground turkey and spinach totally delivers on each and every count, especially in its kicked up Mexican-spiced flavor.
What’s in This One-Pot Pasta?
This healthy ground turkey recipe comes together quickly and with minimal ingredients. Here’s what goes into this one-pot pasta:
- Canola oil
- Lean ground turkey
- Herbs and spices
- Onion
- Red bell pepper
- Garlic
- Diced tomatoes with green chiles
- Penne pasta
- Chicken broth
- Heavy cream
- Fresh spinach
- Shredded cheese
- Chopped cilantro
How to Make the Perfect One-Pot Pasta
One-pot pastas are one of my weeknight favorites because there’s no extra dishes to wash and everything cooks together, infusing every bite of the meal with flavor. The key to ease with a dish like this is the dried pasta is cooked directly with the rest of the ingredients, absorbing the cooking liquid for even more flavor.
To make, cook this healthy ground turkey recipe in layers, starting with the ground turkey and seasoning mixture first, then add the next layer of flavor with a quick sauté of the fresh veg, then adding the canned tomatoes, spices and dried pasta with the chicken broth to add even more depth of flavor.
A bit of half and half thickens the sauce just a enough without adding a whole lot of fat, and a few handfuls of leafy spinach to add a fresh, healthy vibrance to the pot.
Finally, the whole dish is topped with just enough cheese to make this dinner totally crave-worthy for every eater at the table.
Can I Use Another Green Besides Spinach?
Of course! You could use chopped kale or even arugula if you have those on hand instead.
Tips for Making Ground Turkey Pasta
For this ground turkey recipe, you want to use a good quality chicken broth or make my homemade chicken stock recipe — I freeze it in zippered gallon freezer bags then defrost for quick dinner occasions just like this.
I used Monterey Jack for a melty cheese pull, but any melty cheese like provolone, mozzarella, or even Swiss or cheddar will work here too. Or, if you want to go full Mexican flavor, queso will give a tangier, less melty bite.
Also note that you should choose a high-sided 3- to 4-quart sauté pan or a Dutch oven to make this one-pot pasta in to have enough room for the pasta to expand in as it cooks.
More Pasta Dinner Ideas to Try
- Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Whole Wheat Pasta
- Lighter Penne Alla Vodka
- Spaghetti Alla Carbonara
- Blackened Seafood Pasta
- Shrimp Scampi Pasta
- Baked Sausage and Cheese Rigatoni
- Mom’s Homemade Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Bookmark this recipe and leave a comment below, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
One-Pot Pasta with Ground Turkey and Spinach
Looking for easy ground turkey recipes? This one-pot pasta comes together in just 30 minutes and is packed with good-for-you ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt , divided
- 3 teaspoon ground cumin , divided
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper , divided
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 medium onion , diced
- ½ cup red bell pepper , diced
- 3 cloves garlic , minced or pressed
- 1 10- ounce can diced tomatoes and green chilies
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 10 ounces dried penne pasta
- 3 cups chicken broth
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach (2 big handfuls)
- ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- Chopped cilantro , for garnish
Instructions
-
Heat the oil in a large, high-sided skillet or Dutch oven over medium high heat until it shimmers and then add the ground turkey with 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon ground cumin, the oregano, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and the crushed red pepper. Break up the turkey with the spices and cook for about 5 minutes.
-
Add the onion, red bell pepper, and pressed garlic and cook for another 5 minutes or until the turkey is browned and the veggies soften.
-
Add the canned tomatoes with green chiles to the skillet or pot with the rest of the kosher salt, cumin, black pepper, chili powder and stir.
-
Add the penne pasta and cover with the chicken broth, bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer, cover and cook until the pasta is just tender, about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-
Stir in the cream and fold in the spinach and cook until the spinach wilts, taste for seasoning and top with the shredded cheese.
-
Garnish with the chopped cilantro, sit back and watch the forks fly!
Recipe Notes
- Choose a high-sided 3 to 4 quart sauté pan or a Dutch oven to make this recipe in to have enough room for the pasta to expand in as it cooks.
More Weeknight Dinners to Love
I serve this 30-minute pasta dinner recipe with a simple dinner salad, this Chopped Mexican Kale Salad or my super easy Caesar salad. To make the rest of your weeknight dinners easy, here’s some ideas to get dinner on the table with ease.
- 30 Dinners to Make When There’s No Time to Cook
- Linguini and Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp
- 30-Minute Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir-Fry
- One-Pot Skinny Pasta Primavera
- 30-Minute Caprese Chicken
- One-Pot Black Bean Enchilada Pasta
- One-Pot Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe
- 28 Days of Lighter Pasta Recipes to Make Now
Craving more life balance, less stress, and better health? Check out my Nourished Planner, the daily planner to help create simplicity and under-schedule your life.
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Olivia Atherton says
So yummy looking!!! Just pinned this away to make when my brother stops in unexpected!
Mike Hill says
A great one pot meal! I subbed hot Italian chicken sausage and added chopped carrots and celery for extra crunch. Topped with shredded smoked chipotle Gouda.
Thanks for the inspiration.
shiraosa says
Juhu!! Hvor er jeg en heldig kartoffel!! Sender dig straks mine kontaktoplysninger! kh Ulrika
Mycustomeressay says
More arugula recipes: How to make arugula pesto [FoodieCrush], Slow Cooker Sausage Arugula Lentil Soup [Melanie Makes], and Arugula Berry and Goat Cheese Salad [RecipeGirl].
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Kim says
This was very yummy! A hit with the whole family. Will definitely make again
Customeressay says
Thank you. Worthwhile report.
run 3 says
Juhu!! Hvor er jeg en heldig kartoffel!! Sender dig straks mine kontaktoplysninger! kh Ulrika
Ana says
The flavor of this pasta sauce is amazing! So delicious! This recipe has just the right amount of kick and seasoning. Love it. Thanks for the recipe!
Marci says
Just made this recipe tonight and it’s absolutely delicious!! Made it exactly the way it’s written. Perfect!
camile baby says
Just made this recipe tonight and it’s absolutely delicious!! Made it exactly the way it’s written. Perfect!
Sarah says
I just made this with some substitutions:
Didn’t have red bell pepper so used zuchinni instead
Didn’t have cream so used cream of mushroom soup instead
Used beef broth instead of chicken broth
Used gluten free brown rice pasta
It still turned out AMAZING even with all the subs! Thanks!
Regan says
This tastes amazing, thank you! I had quite a bit of leftover liquid in the dish; is that normal? I did use GF noodles, so maybe that was it?
Heidi says
Hi Regan. If you have more liquid, continue cooking so it evaporates. I haven’t tried it with gluten free noodles, but maybe that was it?
Veronica says
What kind of cream do you use ?
Georgia says
Thank you so much for this recipe. My husband has NEVER asked me to print out and save a recipe before, but he did with this one “One-Pot Penne Pasta with Turkey and Spinach.” Also, I used what I had on hand “frozen spinach” and it was still delicious.
Vanessa says
Hubby has congestive heart failure. This recipe is not only heart healthy but with few adjustments (no salt) he said it tasted like a delicious meal that he hasn’t had for over a year now! Huge compliment! Please keep them coming! Absolutely Deeeeelicious!
Joan says
Substituted organic red lentil Sedanini ( from trader joes). Cooks just like pasta but made from lentil flour.
Also added kale since I didnt have spinach. Very yummy!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
That sounds delicious!
Theresa Stoner says
Very. Very yummy. My picky eaters said it was delicious. Only variation I did was added a little more pepper flakes for a bigger kick and more like 3/4 cup of cheese . Also forgot to buy fresh spinach had to use frozen.
Made no difference it was really great! Thanks for the recipe. It’s a keeper !
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
I sure love when a recipe wins over the picky eaters! YAY!
Evie And maggie Walcott says
First time making a one pot pasta. Genius! It was such a great weeknight quick meal. My kids are buttered noodle fans. At first there was a chorus of “I won’t eat this!”. Then they were asking for seconds!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
I am so glad that it was a big hit for the whole family!
Andrea says
I was looking for an easy recipe with ground turkey and spinach and I’m so glad I found yours. Not only was it easy, but tastes great! I was out of penne pasta so ended up using whole-wheat macaroni and only used half the amount which made it more like a soup which I really liked! I couldn’t get over how great the turkey tastes since it can run on the “bland” side but is a great substitute for ground beef. Thank you so much for sharing your family goodness with us. :)
Heidi says
So glad you enjoyed it Andrea! Whole wheat is always a great substitution and gives it a nutty flavor. Cool idea with the soup, my husband would love that version.
Gwen says
I googled for a recipe using ground turkey and pasta …. and this popped up! I didn’t have fresh spinach but I added some frozen chopped spinach. Also threw in some broccoli. It was delicious! Thank you for the great recipe!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
That sounds so great! I love when you guys make these recipes your own with what you have on hand! Thanks Gwen
Brenda says
I made this dish for my family. They loved it and have requested that I keep this recipe for future meals. My husband asked that I reduced the amount of crushed red pepper next time but he isn’t a spicy food lover like my kids and grandchildren. I thought the added cream and cheese softened the hot just right.
Mary Henderson says
Made this for the first time tonite. And it won’t be the last time! It’s filed under my favourites
Kevin says
It was out of this world excellent — like a signature pasta dish from a semi higher end Italian restaurant. The only thing I switched up was Cayenne Pepper instead of Chili Powder (for a spicier kick).
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
YAY!!! Thanks Kevin. Glad you enjoyed it.
Rebecca Martin says
Great recipe, I made it pretty close to directions. Substituted half and half for cream. Turned out really delicious though! Definitely a keeper!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
Sounds delish! Thanks Rebecca1
Sue says
Question; I would love to make this recipe, I have a pound of ground turkey/chipotle flavored that I have been wanting to use. Would this work for this recipe? If so, how should I adjust the seasoning?
Marissa says
So tasty! It was easy to make and kind of reminded me of a healthy Hamburger Helper haha. I used cashew milk for the cream and it came out great. Thanks for the recipe!
Heidi says
Awesome Marissa. It is a little bit like HH, but with the healthier bent. Cashew milk works too!
Nichole says
Made this last night and it was delicious!!
I will definitely be making this again.
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
So glad you loved it!
Yemisi says
I used bone broth instead but I think I added too much of it. Its simmering now. And instead of green chiles I used jalapeño- I love spice! Smells yummyyy
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
It does smell incredible! Enjoy!
Christa says
I made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious! A fast and easy recipe, although the store didn’t have any red bell pepper I added shredded carrots in there and it was still great.
Sarah says
Absolutely delicious!! I will definitely save this recipe. Next time I would cut down on the red pepper flakes and chili powder as it was a bit spicy for me. Thank you for the recipe!
Judy Iverson says
Excellent dinner when I had no plan. I had to substitute butter/milk mixture for heavy cream and left off the chili pepper flakes. A great meal to add to our favorites list. Thank you!
Brittany Brashear says
Hi! I can’t wait to try! So do you add the pasta dry and it cooks in the turkey and sauce and broth?
Muna says
Made this today for dinner & it was delicious! As I have small children I reduced the amount of salt & chilli but it still has quite a kick to it. My super fussy almost 3 year old wouldn’t touch it which is a shame as he’s normally a big fan of pasta but my 10 month old loved it. Will def make it again!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
I am so glad that your littles liked it! Hopefully your 3 year old will try it next time!
sarah mercer says
I found this recipe by googling “what to make with spinach and ground turkey”. Turns out I had bought arugula not spinach but it still worked! Easy to follow directions and simple ingredients. My whole family loved it and I love how many veggies are hidden in this dish. This will be in the regular rotation.
Heidi says
So glad Google led you here Sarah, and even better that you enjoyed it. Thanks for the 5-star rating!
Phyl says
I made it for dinner this evening. My boyfriend and I loved it! He had two helpings, and we still have enough for tomorrow’s dinner. I like cooking everything in one pot…so much less to clean afterward.
Heidi says
I’m so glad you and your boyfriend enjoyed it Phyl! And less dish washing for the win :)
Laura S Cox says
Made this for dinner tonight, and we all really enjoyed it. My husband isn’t the biggest fan of one-pot meals, but he said he really liked the flavor, and since he does the dishes, he also appreciated that all he had to wash was a pot and a cutting board, basically. My son is very open to new foods, luckily, and he liked it so much, he wanted seconds! We omitted the cumin, chili powder, and cilantro, and tried to maintain a more Italian-inspired dish, and it did not disappoint. We increased the amounts of oregano and garlic, and after stirring in cream and spinach, we added parmesan. Great recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Debbie Yeager says
I just made this and was delicious. We loved it. Will be passing this recipe on to my daughter. Thanks for the recipe.
Sue Murray says
Really easy and fast and easily customizable. I through some leftover white wine in there.
Heidi says
Wine is a great addition Sue. Thanks for the comment and rating.
Julia says
Just made this for Sunday dinner and everybody loved it. I will definitely make this again. Thanks for the recipes. Julis
Heidi says
So glad you enjoyed it Julia. Thanks for the 5-star rating!
Julia says
I made this last night for Sunday dinner and everyone loved it. I will definitely make this again. Thanks for the delicious recipe.
Heidi says
So glad you enjoyed it Julia!