30 Ground Turkey Pasta Recipes To Up Your Cooking Game

Protein is a macronutrient, which means your body needs a lot of it. When it comes to protein-enriched food, ground turkey is a favorable choice. 

In fact, turkey has lots of vitamins and minerals, and as lean meat, it has low fat. Also, it being one of the delectable meat is the icing on the cake. 

Wondering what to cook with ground turkey? Don’t fret! Here I am with 30 easy and amazing ground turkey pasta recipes you should try simultaneously. 

From classics like pasta to imaginative new meals like ground turkey baked penne, this list has everything you need to satiate your hunger.

So, are you ready to embark on a ground turkey pasta journey with me? 

1. Pasta with Spinach, Ground Turkey & Cannellini Beans

If Spinach and Cannellini Beans are your things, go for this spinach, cannellini beans, and ground turkey pasta recipe and enjoy a delicious supper.

The star ingredient in this recipe is the bay leaf. It gives a nice earthy undertone to the tomato sauce. 

Moreover, combine crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce instead of using tomato paste for a slightly heartier sauce.

You can add carrots to the tomato sauce if tomatoes give you acidity. This will also sweeten up the sauce to an extent.  

2. Stovetop Cheesy Ground Turkey Pasta

In a skillet, lean ground turkey, spices, and penne pasta simmer in creamy chicken and tomato broth; you can enjoy cheesy ground turkey pasta.

It is yummy to its core and a hearty meal to enjoy on a weekend while binge-watching your favorite series on Netflix. 

While most people use Gouda cheese, I use a combination of cheddar and mozzarella for this recipe. You can use any cheese of your choice. 

Pair this stovetop pasta with garlic bread and serve with steamed broccoli or sweet potatoes. 

There’s nothing not to enjoy about this quick and easy-to-make nutritious cheesy ground turkey pasta recipe!

3. Turkey Pasta Primavera  

While Primavera means Spring in Italian, this healthy and appetizing turkey pasta recipe is perfect for all seasons. 

With lots of veggies, a touch of herbs and spices, and half a cup of parmesan, this pasta recipe will become your favorite in no time. 

The choice of vegetables for this recipe is broccoli floweret, red or green bell peppers, spinach, carrots, or cauliflower. 

Remember, if you add spinach to this recipe, add it at the end with pasta noodles and let it sit until it wilts. 

Serve this pasta with crusty breadsticks, and make a large leafy green salad on the side. While for dessert, a bowl of fresh berries will do.

4. Pink Pasta Sauce with Ground Turkey

Although it is called pink pasta sauce, it does not look like a Flamingo. Actually, pink pasta sauce is the name given to tomato and creamy cheese sauce. 

This pink pasta sauce, or as we call it, the Italian rosa sauce, takes 25 minutes to get ready. 

When you add ground turkey to it with a pasta of your choice, you get to taste flavors of two different sauces: red sauce and alfredo sauce. 

So, it won’t be wrong to say that the pink pasta sauce with ground turkey recipe has more flavor than other ground turkey pasta recipes. 

5. Spaghetti with Turkey Ragu

Have you got time on hand? Let’s make spaghetti with a long-simmering Italian meat sauce called Ragu. 

I bet Spaghetti with Turkey Ragu won’t disappoint you. It is a classic Italian meat sauce recipe that is full of flavors. 

The essential ingredients that go into this recipe are spaghetti, tomato sauce, onions, celery, carrots, ground turkey, aromatic herbs, parmesan cheese, and white wine. 

To increase the sweetness in the sauce, reach for brown sugar, while for more of an umami flavor, you can add soy sauce.  

A tablespoon or two of lemon juice will combat the sweetness of the sauce and will also add a savory element to the sauce.

Play with the ingredients and create your own version of Spaghetti with Turkey Ragu. 

6. Pumpkin Pasta With Ground Turkey, Mushrooms & Kale

Usually, pumpkin pasta does not taste so good. However, adding ground turkey, mushrooms, and kale gives this bland-taste pasta a much-needed flavor boost. 

This recipe is one of my favorites in the list of ground turkey recipes because it is vastly versatile. 

I can substitute any ingredient in this recipe without compromising the taste. When I can’t find a pumpkin, I use butternut squash puree, and the pasta still tastes excellent. 

Similarly, weight watchers can use low-fat milk instead of heavy cream and add vegan butter to thicken the sauce. 

You can replace or even skip Parmesan cheese altogether in this recipe. 

7. Turkey Spaghetti 

This one is not as basic as it sounds! Yes, it’s just spaghetti with turkey, but still, what gives spaghetti its flavor is the perfectly-made meat sauce. 

This meat sauce perfectly pairs Italian seasonings, ground turkey, onion, carrot, and garlic simmered in tomato sauce and parmesan cheese.

When you devour Spaghetti in Turkey meat sauce, your taste buds will definitely start dancing to their own rhythm. 

This delicious ground turkey spaghetti recipe is perfect for a quick weekday dinner I know the family will enjoy.

It is simple, fast, and flavorful and needs minimal effort. 

8. Baked Ziti with Spicy Ground Turkey

It is a cross between Bolognese and baked ziti, a perfect weekend meal with stuffed mushrooms, green beans, or cheesy garlic bread. 

When I make it to bake it, my whole family enjoys perfect homemade comfort food with undeniably good taste. 

Baked ziti with spicy ground turkey includes lean ground turkey in the sauce to make it a complete meal and a pinch of red pepper flakes to provide a bit of fire.

Remember, ground turkey is lean. It is easily overcooked and dried out. You want to brown it rapidly and add the next ingredients quickly to keep it moist.

9. Turkey Taco Pasta

This Turkey Taco Pasta is a super creamy pasta featuring ground turkey, pasta macaroni, salsa without chunks, taco seasoning, pepper jack cheese, and sharp cheddar cheese. 

It’s a non-fuss, 30-minute meal that is delectable to its core. Adults and children both love turkey taco pasta equally. 

If you love tacos but hate assembling them, try this fantastic twist of tacos and make turkey taco pasta instead. I bet you will never go back to tacos!

Garnish the pasta with fresh tomatoes, avocado, green onions, or any other taco toppings you can think of! 

We occasionally love to eat our taco pasta with crunchy tortilla chips as well.

10. Healthy, Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Ground Turkey Pasta

This creamy ground turkey pasta is a delight, with flavors that satisfy even the most picky eaters!

In this pasta, the sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes complements the other ingredients perfectly well. 

While creating this recipe, do not forget to add Greek yogurt and spinach. 

The yogurt makes the sauce creamy, and spinach adds fiber and nutrients that enrich the recipe even more.

It’s surprisingly simple to prepare for something so delicious, making it one of our favorite ground turkey spaghetti dishes!

11. Ground Turkey Alfredo Casserole

You must have tried Alfredo Casserole, but have you tasted the ground turkey Alfredo casserole yet?

Alfredo pasta is my favorite, and casserole is the comfort food that my kids love. So this recipe ends up on our dinner table almost every month. 

Using turkey instead of beef or pork gives me the satisfaction of using lean meat with more nutrients. 

This delicious creamy delicacy is made with mushrooms, ground turkey, mozzarella cheese, and Alfredo sauce. 

This pasta dish, baked in the oven until the cheese has all melted, will surely please everyone at your end too. 

It is a real comfort food, especially when served with pasta like rotini.

12. Turkey Vegetable Spaghetti

You definitely don’t want to miss out on this turkey vegetable spaghetti recipe! It is going to enhance your standard meat sauce experience to the trifold.

The mix of zucchini, carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, herbs, and spices helps make this spaghetti nutrient-dense dish full of mouthwatering flavors. 

Using a lean protein like turkey helps me lower fat, and I like to serve it with al dente spaghetti for a beautiful presentation!

Remember, when you cook spaghetti, the water absorbs much of the flavor. To maintain the flavor of the pasta in the meal, add some of the pasta water to the sauce. 

Before serving, garnish with freshly chopped parsley and enjoy a satisfying dinner!

13. Easy Gnocchi Recipe with Bolognese Sauce and Ground Turkey

This Italian-inspired delectable Bolognese sauce that is lighter and healthier will give you a flavorful gnocchi with ground turkey. 

You can use homemade or store-bought gnocchi for this recipe. I prefer using whole wheat gnocchi because it is lighter and tastier. 

You can boil the gnocchi before adding to the sauce or be a lazy butt like me and add uncooked gnocchi to the sauce with half a cup of extra liquid.

The best part is that it freezes well, so be bold and prepare a large quantity at once!

14. Best Ever Turkey Tetrazzini

Oh! Do not get intimidated by this fancy name. It is just another name for crowd-pleasing pasta casserole we make with leftover turkey. 

I make this creamy pasta casserole in creamy mushroom sauce, add leftover chunks of turkey, layer it with cheese, and bake it until hot and bubbly. 

That’s all to this fancy, best-ever turkey tetrazzini! Wondering why to make it then? Because my friend, the casserole made this way is more flavorful and fluffy.

You do not wanna miss it! 

15. Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta with Ground Turkey & Spinach

It’s time to get your hands dirty with this instant pot of creamy tomato pasta with ground turkey and spinach that needs effort but also tastes pleasing. 

Firstly, you must saute onion, ground turkey, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes with various seasonings. 

Then you must cook on high flame after adding pasta, fire-roasted tomatoes, broth, and marinara sauce.

Once everything is fully cooked, toss the spinach, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Stir slowly until a savory pot of flavorful and creamy pasta is ready.

To give this delicious meal even more depth of flavor, sprinkle basil just before serving and enjoy the pats on your back. 

16. Turkey Florentine Pasta Bake

Enough with the creativity! Let’s make a simple and uncomplicated comfort pasta dish that only asks for spinach and marinara sauce to get ready in minutes. 

The turkey florentine pasta bake is one of the easy-to-make recipes in the vast list of ground turkey pasta recipes.

We mix turkey in a creamy marinara sauce for turkey florentine pasta and bake it over chopped spinach. 

Remember to squeeze extra water from the spinach; otherwise, the pasta will turn out watery. 

You can use cheddar, Colby, or parmesan cheese. It will not alter the taste. Sprinkle half a spoon of red chili flakes to give this pasta bake a kick. 

17. Ground Turkey Stuffed Jumbo Shells

Who wants to prepare an easy, delicious, healthy, and impressive-looking dish as a main course? 

Definitely, we all do!

Therefore, I will bring you ground turkey stuffed shells. You will get fascinated with this dish’s simplicity, flavors, and presentation. 

For this recipe, make a mixture of ground turkey, onion, carrots, zucchini, cream cheese, and herbs. 

Once ready, fill it all in the pre-cooked jumbo pasta shells and bake it over and under the marinara sauce. 

Serve it with anise bread, parmesan buttermilk cornbread, or a spinach salad. 

18. Pesto Pasta with Ground Turkey and Kale

This Pesto pasta is going to rock your world!

With ground turkey and kale, the pesto pasta becomes entirely another recipe you won’t want to miss. 

This pesto pasta is a great way to feed kale to your kids. However, if they still make a face, you can swap kale for spinach. 

Do you want to know a trick? Make pesto using a mortar and pestle instead of a hand processor or a blender. 

Traditionally made pesto is rich in thickness and is more flavorful too. It will boost the overall flavor of the recipe. 

Try it once, and let me know if you find this tip helpful!  

19. Easy Ground Turkey Broccoli Pasta Dinner

One of the many challenges a mother faces is feeding broccoli to their kids. Let this recipe back you up in this department. 

The flavor of ground turkey meat, pasta, parsley, and garlic will overcome the bland taste of broccoli in this recipe. 

Even the most fussy eaters, like my kids, find this pasta meal more flavorful and exciting than a simple plate of broccoli. 

So, why not feed healthy pasta to your kids without making them go rogue? 

20. One Pot Turkey Mexican Pasta

This quick and easy dinner for the whole family—made with broccoli and ground turkey takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. 

It’s incredibly tasty and hearty!

This instant one-pot recipe is ideal for hectic weeknights if you’re searching for quick and straightforward lean ground turkey pasta recipes.

So, what are you waiting for? Get into the kitchen and serve dinner within half an hour. 

21. Creamy Shell Pasta with Ground Turkey

Don’t know what to make this weekend with Thanksgiving leftover turkey? Try this ground turkey creamy shell pasta once and become a lifelong fan. 

It’s a restaurant-style pasta, which does not ask for any fancy ingredients. You just need a handful of veggies, shells, broth, flour, tomato sauce, heavy cream, and cheese. 

Most people find a combo of zucchini and tomato sauce appealing, while some say mushrooms go well with creamy parmesan sauce. 

Trying out different variations can never hurt! 

22. Creamy Ground Turkey Pasta with Butternut Squash and Spinach

This wonderful recipe is one you must include in your lunch or dinner. Also, it’s a great recipe to jazz up your next meal by adding vibrant colors to your pasta.

In this colorful meal, we pair fusilli with roasted butternut squash, spinach, and ground turkey to make a delectable pasta dish.

Each bite will be filled with different flavors thanks to the coating of the ingredients in a creamy sauce prepared from heavy cream and Parmesan cheese.

When fully cooked and well-tossed, it’s a visual treat that tastes just as fantastic, making it an Instagram-worthy dish!

23. Ground Turkey Pasta Bake

I think sometimes we overcomplicate dinner, thinking it will taste more awesome if we give it more time and effort. 

Cooking is a mindset! It doesn’t need to be rocket science. All you need to know is which ingredients go with each other and how to season the sauces. 

This ground turkey pasta bake proves me right! It just requires a few ingredients, seasoning, and tomato sauce. 

Boil pasta, cook turkey, make the sauce, toss in pasta, sprinkle cheese, and bake it for 25 minutes in a preheated oven. 

Your ground turkey pasta bake is ready to be served. 

24. Healthy Ground Turkey Puttanesca

The fragrant and spicy Puttanesca sauce comes to us all the way from Nepal. The basic recipe of Puttanesca features olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, olives, capers, and anchovies. 

We will omit anchovies because they do not go well with turkey meat. Onions, chili flakes, parsley, and oregano are a few of the optional ingredients for this recipe. 

As a meat lover, I add chicken to this recipe and serve the garlicky Puttanesca with a freshly tossed green salad and Loaded Bruschetta. 

You can round off the meal with the Tiramisu and expect applause. 

25. Baked Penne Alla Vodka

Baked penne alla vodka is the perfect fusion of creamy vodka sauce, tender ground turkey, and mini penne noodles. 

I suggest you make homemade vodka sauce to enhance the flavor. However, if you are short on time, there is no harm in reaching the jarred vodka sauce.

The combination of Mozzarella and Burrata cheese that you layer at the end will make this meal a five-star meal, while the sprinkle of Parmesan will enhance the flavor even more. 

For an alcohol-free recipe, substitute vodka with broth or water. However, the meal won’t taste the same. 

Wondering what to add to make the meal more aromatic? Go for Basil and thank me later. 

26. Spiced-Up Ground Turkey Spaghetti Sauce

The right amount of herbs and spices alleviate your sauce to the next level!

Similarly, half a spoonful of red pepper flakes, kosher salt and pepper, and fresh parsley can spice the sauce up. 

If you like spicy, this recipe is for you! 

Although the red chili flakes would be enough for many, for me, Hunt’s Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes are also a must in this recipe for an extra kick.

You can use diced tomatoes and fewer chili flakes to avoid heat in the sauce. But then, please don’t call it a spiced-up ground turkey spaghetti sauce. 

27. Turkey Mac

Here I am with another one-pot recipe because I love to keep it simple and easy for you guys and myself. 

Ask me to make a Cacio e Pepe pasta, and I am out of the kitchen in a blink. 

So, keeping it simple yet flavorful, let me share my favorite turkey mac recipe – a combination of seasoned ground turkey, soft pasta, creamy tomato sauce, and well-cooked veggies. 

This is a perfect meal to make and serve on busy weekdays and when guests arrive unannounced. 

28. Creamy Turkey Pasta with Peas

When looking for a hearty winter meal, selecting a recipe that includes veggies that are in season is best. 

So, let’s try our hand at making creamy turkey pasta with peas because, for one, I love peas, and secondly, I have lots of fresh batches available.  

I am using ground turkey for this recipe. You can swap it with another type of meat or veggies for vegetarian pasta. 

What matters in this recipe is its seasoning, so you can even use frozen or canned peas instead of fresh ones. 

29. One-Pot Pasta Recipe With Ground Meat

What a great way to stay warm on a cold day with hearty turkey, stretchy, gooey cheese, and a flavorful sauce!  

Everyone could use a little more warmth in their lives, and this tasty one-pot pasta with ground turkey certainly does the trick!

When I prepared this recipe last time, it took me one pot and 20 minutes. 

Lots of shredded mozzarella cheese is a must-to-add in the end, or all your efforts will go in vain because pasta with insufficient cheese never tastes correct. 

30. Creamy Leftover Turkey Pasta

The leftover turkey pasta recipe is the last recipe in the list of ground turkey pasta recipes. 

It is an essential recipe to have on hand because we all want to utilize the leftover ground turkey that has been taking up space in our fridge for days. 

For this recipe, you will need Orzo pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, spinach, leftover ground turkey, and Parmesan.

You can use any other pasta if you do not have Orzo pasta. Just remember the aim is to get your hands off leftover turkey.