Bold, full of flavor, and perfect on a busy weeknight, this turkey spaghetti pulls out all the stops when it comes to ground turkey misconceptions. Leaner than ground beef, ground turkey is a great alternative if you are looking for something with fewer calories, less saturated fat, or a protein that just feels lighter. So why don't more people cook with ground turkey instead of ground beef?
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Well for starters, the lack of fat in lean ground turkey meat leads to drier meat that sometimes lacks flavor. So to counteract this you've gotta be a little creative. We don't want our ground turkey to taste like beef (to do this you can add in some Worcestershire sauce and up the fat content) but rather we want the turkey to shine the brightest it can.
The best way to achieve that without adding in a ton of salt or fat is by flavoring the meat with an umami blend and cooking the ground turkey until it is crispy.
Simply Organic, Umami Blend
If there is one spice blend I am constantly using, it's this Umami blend from Simply Organic. Made with Sea Salt, Organic Onion, Organic Mushroom, Organic Mustard, Organic Chili Pepper, Organic Black Pepper, Organic Rice Concentrate and Organic Thyme, this spice mixture brings out a rich, savory note in foods, making the dish seem "meatier". I love to add it in soups (especially ramen!) and sprinkle it on our steaks before they hit the grill.
So once your turkey is seasoned, the other tip to make your turkey "meatier" is to almost fry it like you would breakfast sausage. The crispness adds a great texture to the entire meal.
Lyndsay Cordell
Let's not forget the sauce! The addition of peppers and yellow onions in the spaghetti sauce adds depth to store-bought tomato sauce while a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and fresh parsley add a freshness to the whole dish.
How To Make Turkey Spaghetti
This entire recipe takes about 25 minutes tops to prepare, which makes it a great recipe for Italian weeknight dinners. I enjoyed this bowl with a green salad while watching The Sopranos.
Start by chopping up your peppers and onions and getting your skillet with a bit of vegetable oil nice and hot. Add in your veggies and cook until translucent. Add in your ground turkey and season the lot with the Umami blend.
Lyndsay Cordell
Meanwhile, get a large pot of water boiling for your spaghetti noodles. Once boiling, add in some salt and cook spaghetti noodles until al dente.
By this time your turkey should be crispy. Drain the oil if necessary, then pour in the tomato sauce. You can also use crushed tomatoes as well, just make sure to add some Italian seasoning and olive oil for flavor.
Simmer the pasta sauce, seasoning with salt and pepper. Stir in the drained noodles and plate, serving with parmesan cheese and parsley. You can always season with a bit of red pepper if you like some bite with your turkey spaghetti sauce.
READ MORE: BBQ Spaghetti Is A Must-Try Dish When In Memphis
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Ground Turkey Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1-2 Tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1/2 green pepper, chopped
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 1 tsp Umami seasoning
- 24 oz tomato sauce or marinara
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- chopped parsley
- shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the chopped peppers, onions, and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent. Add in the ground turkey and season with Umami seasoning and pepper. Cook until crispy, about 8-10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot, boil water with a little bit of salt. Cook noodles according to box directions. Drain.
- Once the turkey is crispy, drain off fat if necessary, then add in the tomato sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, until vegetables are tender.
- Stir in the spaghetti noodles and top with parsley and parmesan cheese.
