This one pot ground turkey spaghetti is just the recipe you need on a busy weeknight! Made with simple ingredients from your pantry, this turkey spaghetti recipe is quick, flavorful, and easy to make. A simple meat sauce cooked with pasta all in one pot, this is a meal everyone will love.
This one pot turkey spaghetti is a simple but delicious pasta dinner that you can whip up in no time. This homemade spaghetti sauce is made with turkey instead of beef or pork, so its a lightened version of a classic. No one will even notice its ground turkey!
Spaghetti with meat sauce is a classic, delicious dinner option that most people love. However, plain ground turkey can result in a bland, boring spaghetti dish. With the right blend of herbs and spices, you can transform ground turkey into a flavorful meat sauce perfect for tossing with pasta.
When seasoning ground turkey for spaghetti, using Italian-inspired herbs and spices is key The savory, aromatic flavors pair perfectly with tomato sauce and pasta. Follow these tips on how to season ground turkey for scrumptious spaghetti every time.
Why Season Ground Turkey for Spaghetti
There are a few good reasons to take the time to properly season ground turkey for spaghetti:
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Provides big flavor – Plain ground turkey can be quite bland on its own. Seasoning is needed to make it tasty
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Compliments tomato sauce – Italian herbs balance and enhance the flavors of a good marinara sauce
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Adds depth – Spices and herbs infuse the meat with layers of savory flavor.
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Improves texture – Spices help keep the turkey from becoming dry or dense.
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Allows recipe customization – You can tweak the seasoning profile to your preferences.
Best Italian Herbs and Spices for Ground Turkey
Here are my top recommendations for seasoning ground turkey destined for spaghetti:
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Oregano – Provides an earthy, aromatic, slightly bitter flavor. A classic for Italian cooking.
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Basil – Offers a sweet, peppery flavor that pairs perfectly with tomatoes. Another Italian staple.
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Garlic powder – Adds a rich, savory garlic taste without the hassle of fresh garlic.
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Onion powder – Provides a touch of sweetness and a mild onion flavor.
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Crushed red pepper – Infuses the meat with a little heat and zing. Adjust to taste.
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Dried parsley – Brightens up the blend with herbal flavor. Either Italian or regular parsley works well.
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Fennel seed – Adds light anise/licorice notes. Very complementary to Italian dishes.
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Salt and pepper – Essential for enhancing overall flavor. Use moderately to avoid over-salting.
Spice Blend Ratios
When mixing your own custom ground turkey seasoning, these spice blend ratios yield great results:
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon basil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
This provides a well-balanced blend of the complementary Italian flavors. Adjust to your particular tastes as desired.
Tips for Flavorful Ground Turkey
Follow these tips for maximum flavor when seasoning ground turkey for spaghetti:
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Sauté aromatics like onion and garlic before adding turkey.
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Use olive oil or butter to bloom spices in before adding meat.
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Mix seasonings into turkey as it browns for evenly distributed flavor.
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Cook at medium heat to prevent overcooking and drying out meat.
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Add a splash of red wine to the sauce for extra depth.
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Simmer sauce for 5-10 minutes for flavors to blend after adding turkey.
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Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before serving over pasta.
Taking the time to properly season ground turkey makes all the difference in bumping up the flavor of your spaghetti.
Other Seasoning Ideas
Don’t limit yourself to just Italian-style seasonings. Consider these alternatives:
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Taco seasoning – Cumin, chili powder, and oregano give a Mexican twist.
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Greek seasoning – Rosemary, thyme, and lemon juice provide Mediterranean flair.
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Cajun seasoning – For a spicy, bold Creole inspired flavor.
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BBQ rub – Enhance with smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic, and honey.
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Curry powder – Add exotic warmth and spice to ground turkey pasta sauce.
Complementary Ingredients
In addition to herbs and spices, adding complementary ingredients can further boost flavor:
- Diced onions and bell peppers
- Minced garlic
- Tomato paste for richness
- Sauteéd mushrooms
- Splash of red or white wine
- Chicken or vegetable broth
- Chopped olives or artichokes
Tips for Serving Ground Turkey Spaghetti
Once you’ve crafted a stellar seasoned turkey sauce, finish it off right:
- Cook pasta al dente for perfect texture
- Toss with just enough sauce to coat noodles
- Garnish with grated parmesan cheese
- Serve with garlic bread and salad or steamed veggies
- Paired with a nice Chianti or Italian soda
It just takes a little seasoning know-how to transform boring ground turkey into a flavorful, delicious meat sauce for spaghetti. Herbs like oregano and basil paired with spices like garlic and onion are key for an Italian-inspired flavor. Cook the turkey thoroughly and allow the seasonings to simmer in the sauce to maximize flavor. Serve over al dente pasta and garnish with cheese for an easy weeknight dinner win.
How To Make This Turkey Spaghetti Recipe
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the diced onion to the skillet. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes to soften.
- Push the diced onions to the side of the pan, creating an empty spot in the middle, and add the ground turkey to the skillet.
- Stir and break up the meat, first in the middle section, then mixing in the onions.
- When half-way browned, add the minced garlic, salt, pepper, and dried basil to the turkey and continue to cook.
- When mostly cooked, add the dried spaghetti noodles to the skillet.
- Add the passata sauce and chicken broth to the skillet and cover with a lid. Increase the heat and bring the mixture up to a boil. Then, using tongs, and nudge the noodles around a bit to help the noodles cook more evenly. If any noodles are clumped together, try to separate them. Cover and continue to cook for 5 minutes, and repeat the process to separate the noodles around the sauce.
- Bring the heat down to a simmer and simmer for another 5 to 6 minutes or until the noodles are cooked through.
- Give the turkey spaghetti and a good mix and garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley or basil as desired and serve. Top with grated parmesan if desired.
- You can use another ground meat or a mixture of ground meat if you dont have enough turkey on hand.
- Add additional veggies to the pasta. You can saute some shredded carrots with the onions or add some frozen peas or spinach to the sauce near the end.
- I use a 3.5-Qt braiser, so the dried spaghetti noodles fit across the pot easily. However, if youre using a pot that has a smaller surface area, you can break the spaghetti noodles in half to fit them in the pot.
- This turkey spaghetti pairs well with Air Fryer Garlic Bread, Parmesan Brussels Sprouts, Air Fryer Broccoli, and Instant Pot Tomato Soup!
- Make sure to add the noodles, tomato sauce, and broth to the ground turkey immediately. You do not want the ground turkey to dry out.
Fridge: I store my spaghetti in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezer: I like to freeze my spaghetti in one-cup portions, so I can grab single servings as needed straight from the freezer. I use Souper Cubes to help with that. To cook from frozen, you can either thaw it in the fridge the night before, microwave it on high in the microwave until it’s ready, or reheat it from frozen on the stovetop with a bit of liquid. You can use code “CARMY10” to save 10% off Souper Cubes on their website!
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 660 mL passata sauce
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 8 ounces dried spaghetti
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the diced onion to the skillet. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes to soften.
- Push the diced onions to the side of the pan, creating an empty spot in the middle, and add the ground turkey to the skillet.
- Stir and break up the meat, first in the middle section, then mixing in the onions.
- When half-way browned, add the minced garlic, salt, pepper, and dried basil to the turkey and continue to cook.
- When mostly cooked, add the dried spaghetti noodles to the skillet.
- Add the passata sauce and chicken broth to the skillet and cover with a lid. Increase the heat and bring the mixture up to a boil. Then, using tongs, and nudge the noodles around a bit to help the noodles cook more evenly. If any noodles are clumped together, try to separate them. Cover and continue to cook for 5 minutes, and repeat the process to separate the noodles around the sauce.
- Bring the heat down to a simmer and simmer for another 5 to 6 minutes or until the noodles are cooked through.
- Give the turkey spaghetti and a good mix and garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley or basil as desired and serve. Top with grated parmesan if desired.
Why You’ll Love This One Pot Recipe
- This one pot pasta recipe comes together in around 30 minutes or less! Its perfect for a busy weeknight. Plus, this turkey spaghetti recipe being made in one pot means theres less washing up to do as well.
- Despite using simple pantry ingredients, this ground turkey spaghetti is loaded with flavor.
- This one pot turkey spaghetti recipe is practically foolproof! It comes together in a few easy steps all in one pot. After a quick saute, you just let everything simmer in a pot.
- oil — you can use your oil of choice. I use olive oil.
- onion — you can use as much or little onion as youd like. I use a small yellow onion.
- garlic — I believe the more garlic, the better!
- ground turkey — I use extra lean ground turkey, but you can use a fattier ground turkey if you prefer. While you can use any ground meat, this is turkey spaghetti!
- salt and pepper — I recommend kosher salt.
- passata sauce — passata sauce is a tomato-based sauce that involves cooking fresh tomatoes, removing their skins and seeds, and pureeing the remaining pulp. The sauce is then strained to create a smooth, thick texture without any bits of skin or seeds.
- chicken stock — or chicken broth. Itll add extra flavor to your pasta sauce.
- dried basil — if you have fresh basil, great. But dried basil is always available in my pantry so its more convenient.
- spaghetti — depending on the size of your pot, you might have to break your dried spaghetti noodles in half.
Turkey Spaghetti That Your Grandma Would Be Proud Of!
FAQ
How do you season turkey for spaghetti?
Add your Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic & onion powder, salt and pepper with ¼ cup of water to your ground turkey. Stir to make sure the meat is fully coated with seasoning. Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and a little sugar with another ½ cup of water.
What spices to put in ground turkey?
- Garlic powder.
- Onion powder.
- Paprika.
- Black pepper.
- Salt.
- Italian seasoning.
What to season your meat with when making spaghetti?
Here’s a simple and effective way to season ground beef for spaghetti: Ingredients: Salt – Enhances flavor. Black Pepper – Adds warmth and depth. Garlic Powder – For a savory, aromatic flavor. Onion Powder – Complements the garlic and adds sweetness. Dried Oregano – A classic herb for Italian dishes.
How to enhance the flavor of ground turkey?
With ground turkey, you need fresh aromatics to season it. Chopped yellow onions, scallions, cilantro, and red bell pepper all help add flavor.