Description
Ground Turkey Veggie Pasta is a quick, colorful, and wholesome dish made with lean turkey, fresh vegetables, and short pasta tossed in a savory tomato sauce. Perfect for weeknights, meal prep, or family dinners—this recipe is as flexible as it is satisfying.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground turkey
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 zucchini, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 cup chopped baby spinach
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup reserved pasta water
8 oz penne or rotini pasta
Optional: fresh basil and grated Parmesan for garnish
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain the rest.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground turkey, breaking it up with a spatula. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Cook for 6–8 minutes until browned and cooked through.
3. Add onion and garlic to the skillet. Cook for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in zucchini and red bell pepper. Sauté for another 5 minutes until just tender.
4. Add diced tomatoes (with juice), tomato paste, and spinach. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Add reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce as needed.
5. Toss cooked pasta into the skillet and stir well to coat. Warm through for 2–3 minutes. Adjust seasonings as needed.
6. Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil and grated Parmesan if desired.
Notes
Use any pasta shape you enjoy—penne and rotini work best for catching sauce.
Feel free to mix in other veggies like mushrooms or broccoli.
Add red pepper flakes for extra heat if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1/4 of total)
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 570mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: turkey pasta, veggie pasta, healthy dinner