Healthy and easy to make, this Ground Turkey Pasta dish is a staple for weeknight dinners! It's ready in less than 30 minutes and includes hearty and flavorful ingredients that will please the whole family.
Quick, simple, and lean, this dish uses delicious ground turkey to create a fantastic and filling dinner. Amazing for a quick dinner, meal prep, and more!
Jump to:
🩵 About This Recipe
This ground turkey pasta recipe is one of my weeknight go-to meals, and here's why! 👩🏻🍳
- This recipe is such an easy weeknight dinner, yet I always get big smiles when I tell the kids we are having this for dinner.
- It doesn't take much time or much brain-power to make this. I confess that I'm often a little fried at the end of the workday, and I really don't want to undertake a big project to get dinner on the table!
- This recipe is a complete dinner all in one, with the turkey, pasta, and broccoli. Sometimes I serve another vegetable along with it, or I make a quick side salad, but most of the time I just serve it all by itself!
- This dinner isn't full of empty calories! The turkey adds a lean protein and the broccoli lends green-veggie nutrition. Use a whole wheat pasta (or fiber-enriched pasta) to minimize empty carbs.
- The basil in this dish provides nutritional and medicinal benefits! Basil is actually rich in antioxidants and certain vitamins and minerals, and even has antibacterial properties!
If you don't usually have fresh basil handy, I recommend buying a large bunch of basil from the store. You should then have plenty to make this recipe, and you can use any remaining leaves to make my broccoli pesto sauce or use them as toppings on my easy pan pizza.
I like to keep a couple of 1 pound packages of ground lean turkey (or other extra lean ground meat) in my freezer because they are great to have on hand for whipping up quick dinners.
Very lean ground meats are good choices because the minimal amount of fat means you don't have to deal with all that messy spattering while you are cooking. Ground turkey is a healthier option than ground beef, but either work well in this recipe. (Ground turkey fans should also check out my Honey Garlic Ground Turkey Bowls!!)
What readers are saying...
I made this for the first time after a friend suggested it. Wow! I loved it! An easy dish with great flavor!
- Jen
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- 1 box of pasta - I like to use spiral pasta, but you can use your favorite.
- broccoli florets - cut these into bite-sized pieces.
- olive oil - you don't need a lot; I often use even less than I list in the recipe.
- ground turkey - I like to buy organic.
- paprika - adds a great mild earthy flavor!
- crushed red pepper flakes - just a little kick! You can skip this if desired.
- minced garlic - you can skip this in a pinch.
- salt - enhances and brings out all the flavors.
- fresh basil - it's possible to substitute dried if you don't have fresh handy.
- Parmesan cheese - use store-bought grated or grate your own.
🔪 Let's Make Ground Turkey Pasta!
(Or click here to jump right to the recipe card with measurements!)
Cook Pasta and Broccoli
Cook pasta according to box directions. During the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli florets. Then drain the pasta and broccoli, return to the pot, and set aside.
Cook Turkey
While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the turkey, paprika, garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt.
Finish Turkey
Brown the ground turkey while breaking it up and combining it with the spices.
Combine Ingredients
Add the turkey mixture, the remaining olive oil, and the basil into the pot with the cooked pasta. Mix well to combine. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese. Garnish with more fresh basil or fresh parsley.
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Use a whole grain pasta for extra fiber and nutrition.
- You can reduce the amount of olive oil for an even leaner meal. Use ½ tablespoon for browning the ground turkey and then only ½ additional tablespoon later in the recipe.
- Once you get the pasta into to boiling water, start browning your turkey. That is the best way to get dinner on the table as quickly as possible!
- Use jarred minced garlic instead of fresh. It's just as good in this dish and saves you the step of mincing the garlic yourself.
- You can buy bags of pre-washed fresh broccoli florets. This will save you time in cutting and separating the broccoli. I find that sometimes there are large florets, however, so I just look through and cut a few of them here and there to make sure they are all around the same bite-sized dimensions.
- I usually reserve the Parmesan cheese for my family to sprinkle on themselves, but you can certainly just add it in ahead of time by combining it with the rest of the ingredients in the last step.
❔ FAQs
Absolutely! Leftover turkey breast or even dark meat instead of ground turkey will be delicious. If you are using leftover cooked turkey, simply chop it into small pieces. Then, after you heat the olive oil in the skillet, add the garlic and other spices and sauté until the garlic start to brown. At that point, add the turkey into the skillet and continue to sauté until it warms through.
I used cellentani pasta because I like the spiral shape, but you can use any pasta in this dish. Rotini, fusilli, and macaroni work well. You can also use penne, gemelli, or mini shells. There are over 600 types of pasta shapes to choose from! For this dish, I recommend pasta shapes that aren't too small (like orzo) or long and stringy (like spaghetti and fettuccine).
Fresh herbs are always best! I don't personally like using dried basil unless I have no other choice. The flavor is not very good and so, if I don't have fresh, I usually just choose to go without.
However, it can be a little tough to keep basil fresh for long enough to be able to use it in a recipe, especially if you only do your food shopping once a week like I do.
Luckily, there is another option now which is a really good one! Gourmet Garden has a lightly dried basil which has a really good flavor and stays fresh up to 4 weeks in your refrigerator. It's a great alternative!
📝 Substitutions and Variations
- Substitute different veggies - spinach, green beans, cauliflower, snow peas, corn, etc. Experiment with different combinations and find the one your family loves the best!
- Try different pastas, such as whole wheat, fiber-enriched, and/or different shapes and sizes. If you have young kids, it might be fun to try alphabet pasta!
- Increase the amount of red pepper flakes if you like a little more heat.
- Change up the flavors by using some black pepper for another layer of flavor, or even a touch of chili powder!
- Use extra lean ground beef or ground chicken instead of ground turkey.
- Throw in a (drained) jar of mushrooms to make this dish even more substantial. Or, if you are feeling really ambitious, use 8 ounces of fresh mushrooms, washed and sliced, and cooked until soft.
- Add in some ranch dressing mix (from packet), Italian seasoning, or even seasoned salt (like the kind from Lawry's) for some extra flavor!
- For a cheesier dish, sprinkle some shredded mozzarella cheese on top and allow to melt before serving.
Kristin's Kitchen Tip
This ground turkey pasta recipe is a complete dinner on its own, but make it go further with a side salad or a steamed veggie like green beans or asparagus for an extra nutritional boost!
🥡 Storage and Reheating
Place ground turkey pasta leftovers in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
You can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months in a sturdy freezer-safe container. The best way is to use a glass container that can go from freezer to fridge to oven. That way you don't need to thaw before reheating.
To reheat, make sure you remove any plastic wrap or non-oven-safe lids. Bake at 375 degrees F until hot, about 40 minutes for refrigerated leftovers or about an hour for frozen.
Keep It Handy
Don't have time for this ground turkey pasta recipe right now? Click on or tap the heart icon on the BOTTOM RIGHT of the screen to save it for later!
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
This ground turkey pasta entree doesn't really need a side dish, but if you would like to have something else on the table, a steamed green veggie, or a side salad, or even these Pretzel Bites with Olives and Parmesan are great choices!
If you have a little bit of extra time, these crispy Breaded Green Beans are always one of our favorite recipes for side dishes!
😋 More Delicious Recipes You'll Love
- For a vegetarian one-pot pasta dish, try this Easy One Skillet Cheese Tortellini Recipe, which is a meal my whole family loves!
- Another easy ground turkey recipe is my Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs recipe. I love these as a healthier option to beef-based meatballs.
- For a rather unique yet totally tasty pasta option, try my Bacon and Pumpkin Pasta dish. It's really easy to make, too!
- If you are a fan of ground turkey and pasta, you might also like this One-Pot Turkey Taco Pasta , or this Quick Turkey Spaghetti. Or, this Ground Turkey Alfredo Casserole is a perfect, easy weeknight meal the whole family will love!
get your copy now!
Need help with dinner?
- 24 quick, delicious recipes
- 1 month of meal plans
- pre-filled grocery lists
- and more!
Ground Turkey Broccoli Pasta
⭐ Did you make this recipe? Awesome! I would love to hear from you. Please give it a star rating and review below! 👇
📋 Recipe Card
Easy Ground Turkey Broccoli Pasta Dinner
Ingredients
- 1 box spiral pasta (12-16 oz box)
- 8 ounces broccoli florets (bite-sized pieces)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 16-20 ounces ground turkey (to substitute leftover cooked turkey, see notes)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh basil
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package. During the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli. Drain the broccoli and pasta and return to the pot. Cover and set aside.1 box spiral pasta, 8 ounces broccoli florets
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat. Add the turkey, paprika, garlic, red pepper flakes and salt.16-20 ounces ground turkey, 1 teaspoon paprika, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Break the turkey into pieces, while cooking until browned. (see notes)
- Add the turkey mixture, the remaining olive oil, and the fresh basil to the pasta pot⅓ cup chopped fresh basil
- Mix until combined. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese when serving (or mix in just prior to serving).¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Notes
Prep Tips:
- You can start browning the turkey as soon as you put the pasta into the boiling water to minimize prep time.
- Using jarred minced garlic is a great shortcut for this recipe.
- Using a bag of pre-washed broccoli florets is another great shortcut. You may need to cut any oversized pieces so they cook evenly.
Variation Suggestions:
- To use leftover cooked turkey, chop it into bite-sized pieces and add it after the garlic and spices have heated and become fragrant. Cook just until warmed through.
- Add extra flavor with a sprinkle of ranch dressing mix, Italian seasoning, or seasoned salt (like Lawry's).
- Toss in cherry tomatoes or sautéed mushrooms for added veggies.
- You can swap the basil for fresh parsley if desired.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve with a simple side salad and warm bread for a complete meal.
- To brighten the flavors, squeeze a fresh lemon over the top before serving.
Storage Info for Leftovers:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop with a small splash of water or broth to loosen it up.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in June 2019, and was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in March 2026.
Thanks so much for reading! I also invite you to follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, or INSTAGRAM to keep up with what's going on in my kitchen.
And you might want to check out my Dizzy Busy and Hungry store on Amazon for a whole bunch of great kitchen products I love!
Happy cooking!
M W B says
After reading some comments, decided to add my own spin; used 1/2 the pasta, cut my broccoli "florets" very generously; added cut mushrooms to the meat mixture, almost doubled the paprika, added pepper and onion powder, threw in a can of mushroom soup and some beef broth. Very delish; hubs had seconds.
Kristin King says
That's wonderful to hear! I love all your variation ideas. Sounds yummy! 🙂
Danielle Cranz says
this is a staple in our house! I love the simplicity of the recipe and how quickly this balanced meal comes together! I have been making it for a few years now and just wanted to say thanks for the great recipe!!
Kristin King says
Yay, that makes me so happy! We love this one too - I make it all the time. Thank you so much for stopping by to let me know!
Nancy J Rogers says
Made this tonight for supper. Was fantastic! Added one can of cream of chicken soup. Turned out delicious! Will definitely make again! Thank you for the recipe.
Kristin King says
I love your variation and I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe. I think I will try the cream of chicken soup as well, that sounds delicious. Thanks for coming back to let me know! 🙂
Allie K says
Over the years, I have made many versions of this! Not to take away from the original, which is lighter, definitely delicious, and a staple in my home, but on different occasions I’ve also added many other spices, vegetables, and even a cheesy cream sauce. Nevertheless, I thought I’d finally write a review since I am thankful to have found this recipe, and would recommend it hands down because you are able to easily adapt it to your preferences and/or what you have available at the moment, lol. 🤣
Kristin King says
That's so great to hear! I always love when people take my recipes as a starting point and get creative with variations. I'm so glad you like this and thank you so much for coming back and leaving such a nice review! 🙂
Toni says
Could this be eaten cold?
Kristin King says
Yes, you can definitely eat this cold! I personally love cold pasta (some people tell me I'm crazy when they hear that, lol).
Susna says
Delicious! And so quick and easy. Highly recommend this.
Kristin King says
So glad you enjoyed this!
Kate says
This was a simple hearty recipe and my toddler loves it! I added in sundried tomatoes for extra flavor since I was out of parmesean cheese.
Kristin King says
Sundried tomatoes are a great idea! So glad you liked this recipe. Thanks! 🙂
Heather says
due to the comments about the dish being on the dry side, and also wanting to keep this on the healthy side, I added 1 c Greek yogurt for creaminess and added protein with lemon juice and zest! perfect!
Kristin King says
Great ideas, thanks for sharing! So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Jen says
I made this for the first time after a friend suggested it. Wow! I loved it! An easy dish with great flavor!
Kristin King says
That's great to hear. So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
PL says
I made my own sauce. It's a recipe that you can start with and make it your own.
Kristin King says
Yes, there is lots you can do with this one. We like it as it is, but sometimes you just want something a little more jazzed up! 🙂
Isabella Smith says
Healthy recipe but needs some sort of sauce to pull it together. Very dry
Kristin King says
Hi Isabella, as I have mentioned to others that made a similar comment, there is no sauce in this dish by design. This recipe is meant to be a light, healthy-ish meal and to bring out the flavor of the ground turkey with the seasonings (note that I have some suggestions to amp up the seasonings for those that would like stronger flavor). If you are used to saucier dishes, then I can imagine that would make this recipe seem bland in comparison. I do have other pasta recipes that have sauces that you might like (try my Easy One Skillet Tortellini or One Pot Curry Pasta). In any case, I thank you for stopping by and for your honest opinion!
Sarah Bachli says
Do you serve a side with this or just serve it in a bowl by itself?
Kristin King says
I have done both! It can be a meal in and of itself, but if I have a full house of hungry people I will usually have a side dish as well to round it out. 🙂