Description
This Ground Turkey Pasta recipe is a hearty and flavorful dish combining lean ground turkey with a rich tomato sauce, aromatic vegetables, and creamy finishing touches. Perfect for a family dinner, the sauce simmers slowly to meld savory and herbaceous flavors, served over al dente tortiglioni pasta and garnished with fresh basil and optional Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 16 ounces DeLallo Tortiglioni
Meat Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 sticks celery, chopped finely
- 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped finely
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can DeLallo San Marzano Style Crushed Tomatoes
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup heavy/whipping cream (optional but recommended)
- 1 generous handful fresh basil, torn
- Pepper, to taste
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion, celery, and carrot, and sauté for 7-8 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
- Cook Turkey and Garlic: Add the ground turkey and minced garlic to the pot. Continue cooking for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently and breaking up the turkey with a spoon until it is browned and cooked through.
- Simmer Sauce: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, dried oregano, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer the sauce for 15 minutes with the lid slightly ajar, stirring occasionally to develop the flavors.
- Cook Pasta: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the tortiglioni pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta once cooked.
- Finish Sauce: Stir the heavy cream and torn fresh basil into the sauce and warm through for a few minutes. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with pepper and additional salt if necessary.
- Combine and Serve: Toss the drained pasta with the sauce until well coated. Serve hot, topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Use salted water when boiling pasta to enhance flavor.
- The heavy cream adds richness but can be omitted for a lighter sauce.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred level of heat.
- Using fresh San Marzano tomatoes helps deepen the sauce’s flavor.
- Leftover pasta and sauce store well refrigerated for up to 3 days.
