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Creamy ground turkey spinach pasta in a bowl ready to serve.

Creamy Ground Turkey Spinach Pasta

A creamy and satisfying pasta dish that combines ground turkey and spinach in a quick cream sauce, perfect for busy weeknights.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 400

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 8 ounces penne pasta, uncooked
Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 4 cups baby spinach, packed You can swap for 5–6 ounces frozen spinach; thaw and squeeze excess water.
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1.5 cups low-sodium chicken broth Or use low-sodium vegetable broth.
  • 1 cup half-and-half Substitute: 3/4 cup whole milk plus 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Plus extra for serving.
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes Optional, adjust to taste.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Fill a large pot with salted water and bring it to a boil. Add the penne and cook until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  2. Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the ground turkey to the skillet. Season with the kosher salt and black pepper. Break the meat up and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6 minutes.
  5. Pour the chicken broth and half-and-half into the skillet. Stir and scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
  6. Add the cooked penne, baby spinach, and crushed red pepper flakes. Fold gently until the spinach wilts and everything is evenly coated.
  7. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts and the sauce clings to the pasta. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 30gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 600mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2g

Notes

If you need a dairy-free version, see Variations below for swaps.

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