Description
A delicious, creamy pasta dish made with ground turkey, penne, and a blend of cheeses.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta (or pasta of your choice)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 2 teaspoons salt, divided
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (use gluten-free if needed)
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup half and half (or heavy cream for extra richness)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
- Red chili flakes, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta 1-2 minutes less than the package directions for al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water and set it aside along with the drained pasta.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the ground turkey to the pan and cook over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon into small, bite-sized pieces, until it’s no longer pink.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon of salt, the black pepper, Italian seasoning, and minced garlic. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Sprinkle the flour over the meat mixture and stir well to coat. Pour in the chicken broth and tomato sauce, stirring to combine. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Add the cooked pasta to the pan along with the half and half. Stir everything together until the pasta is well coated in the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning with the remaining salt and pepper.
- Stir in half of the mozzarella and half of the cheddar cheese until melted. Then, sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over the top.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let it sit for a few minutes until the cheese on top is fully melted. Garnish with fresh parsley and red chili flakes, if desired, before serving.
Notes
- This dish can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta and flour.
- Feel free to add vegetables like spinach or bell peppers for added nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg