This recipe has the easiest ground turkey spaghetti sauce you’ll find. It only needs 6 simple ingredients, like garlicky marinara sauce and ground turkey, to make a flavorful, almost effortless meal. It’s so easy, flavorful, and protein-packed that I’ve included instructions for cooking it on the stove in 30 minutes or in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Spaghetti and meat sauce makes for a hearty, comforting dinner the whole family will love But who has time during the busy work week to simmer sauce for hours? That’s where this easy ground turkey and jarred spaghetti sauce recipe comes in!
In 30 minutes you can have a nutritious pasta dinner on the table using just a few convenient ingredients. Read on for the benefits of choosing lean ground turkey, tips for boosting flavor, and how jarred sauce makes this dishsimple. I’ll also share serving ideas and shortcuts to get dinner on the table fast any night of the week.
Why Go for Ground Turkey Spaghetti?
Using lean ground turkey instead of beef in pasta sauce packs some solid nutrition perks. Here’s why it’s a smart swap
- Lower in fat and calories than ground beef
- Provides lean, low-cholesterol protein
- Contains important nutrients like selenium and vitamin B6
- Adds flavor and heartiness with less saturated fat
- More budget-friendly than lean ground beef
- Milder in flavor than beef to let other ingredients shine
Ground turkey is easy to find at any grocery store and works great in place of ground beef in many recipes. Boosting the nutrition of an old favorite like spaghetti is one tasty way to enjoy it!
Cooking Ground Turkey for Maximum Flavor
To get the best flavor and texture from ground turkey. follow these handy tips
- Choose 93% lean ground turkey – The higher fat content prevents dryness
- Cook over medium heat – Browning thoroughly boosts flavor
- Drain any excess fat – Remove after cooking for a healthier dish
- Don’t overcook – Once browned, just simmer briefly in sauce
- Season generously – Spices and herbs punch up mild turkey flavor
Taking the time to brown seasoned turkey meat keeps it juicy and flavorful when simmered in sauce.
Why Use Jarred Pasta Sauce?
While homemade sauce simmers all day, a quality jarred pasta sauce can make this dinner doable on a weeknight timeline. Here are some benefits of using jarred sauce:
- Saves hours of simmering – Just open and heat through!
- Provides consistent, authentic flavor – Great for picky eaters
- Adds convenience – Always have some jars stashed in the pantry
- Makes customizing easy – Adapt sauce to your family’s tastes
- Utilizes quality ingredients – Many brands use imported Italian tomatoes
Look for sauces made with simple, wholesome ingredients you recognize. Then feel free to tweak them to your liking!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Cooking this easy turkey bolognese sauce takes just 30 minutes start to finish:
- Brown the ground turkey – 7 minutes
- Simmer in pasta sauce – 10 minutes
- Boil and drain spaghetti noodles – 8-10 minutes
- Toss with sauce and serve
That’s it – fast, easy, and delicious! Get the full recipe with amounts for each ingredient and more tips on preparing the turkey below.
Endless Flavor Options
The fun part about using jarred sauce is that it can easily be adapted. Try these tasty flavor ideas:
- Add red pepper flakes or a pinch of chili powder for heat
- Sauté mushrooms with the turkey for extra flavor
- Stir in fresh basil or baby spinach at the end for freshness
- Sprinkle on shredded mozzarella cheese for gooey texture
- Use different jarred sauce flavors like roasted garlic or mushroom
You can also swap in whole wheat or veggie pasta and top with grated parmesan for a dose of extra nutrition.
Cooking Shortcuts for Even Faster Dinner
If you want to save even more time on this déjà waiting to happen family favorite, try these shortcuts:
- Use pre-chopped veggies instead of chopping onions and garlic
- Look for pre-cooked turkey crumbles to skip browning ground meat
- Microwave the pasta noodles to avoid waiting for water to boil
- Use wide, shallow pans to quicken cooking times
- Skip browning the turkey and just simmer briefly in sauce
With the right convenient ingredients and tools, you can cut the active cooking time down to just 10-15 minutes!
Meal Prep Ideas for Ground Turkey Spaghetti
Get your weeknight dinners on autopilot with some easy meal prep using this recipe:
- Double the sauce and freeze half for later up to 3 months
- Portion out ingredients in freezer bags to throw together on busy nights
- Pre-cook a batch of spaghetti noodles to quickly reheat
- Prepare multiple servings of sauce at once to reheat throughout the week
- Let individual portions thaw overnight then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave
With some simple advance prep, you can have homemade-tasting turkey spaghetti ready fast any night.
This easy one-pot spaghetti with ground turkey and jarred sauce makes for a fast, budget-friendly, family-pleasing dinner. Just 30 minutes of active cooking time delivers a nutritious meal with homemade flavor that kids and adults will love.
Customize the recipe with your favorite mix-ins and sauces. With some meal prep, you can have this healthier comfort food classic ready anytime the spaghetti cravings strike!
3 Cooking Method Options
This spaghetti with turkey meat can be cooked in three different ways, which I’ll list below so you can choose the one that works best for you and your schedule. The stove-top option is the quickest (comes together in 30 minutes), so it’s a perfect last-minute meal. This method is quick to put together, but the turkey isn’t as tender and the sauce doesn’t have as much flavor as the other ways.
The slow cooker method is probably my favorite because I don’t have to do anything and the sauce tastes great with the tender turkey. I also have a slow cooker spaghetti sauce if you’re looking for a spaghetti sauce with beef. The instant pot method is another hand-off choice that makes tender meat and tasty sauce. It also takes a little less time to put together than the slow cooker method. Just make sure to read the instructions carefully so as not to burn the sauce.
Easy Variations & Substitutions
- Low carb: Put zucchini or squash noodles on top of the spaghetti sauce to make this a low carb dinner.
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free spaghetti or your favorite gluten-free noodle instead of the spaghetti.
- Turkey marinara sandwich: Put this hearty sauce on a sub and sprinkle fresh mozzarella on top.
- Add more vegetables: For picky eaters, sneak in some extra vegetables. This recipe works great with cauliflower rice, zucchini dice, carrot shreds, or mushroom dice.
- Stuffed shells: Use this lighter ground turkey sauce instead of beef sauce in my stuffed shells.
- You can use any ground meat you like instead of turkey. This recipe works well with ground turkey, but you can also use light ground beef or chicken.
- If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use granulated garlic instead. In the same way, if you don’t have Italian seasoning, mix dried basil, oregano, and parsley together.
EASY SPAGHETTI W/HOMEMADE MEAT SAUCE | GROUND TURKEY RECIPE
FAQ
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