Ground Turkey Pasta with Spinach and Tomato
When you need a dinner that’s comforting, healthy-ish, and doesn’t take an hour to pull together, this ground turkey pasta delivers. It’s hearty without being heavy, packed with lean protein and greens, and tossed in a simple tomato sauce that ties everything together just beautifully.
This is the kind of weeknight meal that checks all the boxes:
✔️ Quick
✔️ Family-friendly
✔️ Uses pantry staples
✔️ Reheats like a dream
Whether you’re cooking for your family or just looking to stretch a pack of ground turkey into something satisfying, this is a no-fuss recipe you’ll want to bookmark. Bonus: it’s easy to tweak based on what you’ve got in the fridge.
Ingredients
- Crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
- Ground turkey
- Spinach
- Onion
- Garlic
- Parmesan
- Penne pasta
- Oregano
- Salt & pepper
How To Make This Ground Turkey Pasta With Spinach & Tomato
I’ve included a printable recipe card for you at the end of this post! It includes ingredients, measurements, instructions – everything you need to make this dish from scratch at home.
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add the onion and garlic. Cook with a drizzle of olive oil or a splash of water until fragrant and softened.
- Add the ground turkey, oregano, and a little salt and pepper to the pan. Cook, breaking up the turkey, for 5-7 minutes, until browned and cooked through.
- Meanwhile, cook the penne pasta according to package instructions.
- Once the pasta is cooked and drained, combine it with the turkey mixture, tomato sauce, and spinach in the pan.
- Stir everything together. Let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Easy Variations
- Make it creamy: Stir in a splash of heavy cream, a dollop of ricotta, or a spoonful of cream cheese at the end for a richer sauce.
- Add heat: A pinch of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot sauce gives the dish a subtle kick.
- Swap the greens: No spinach? Try kale, arugula, or even finely chopped zucchini.
- Change up the pasta: Penne is great, but feel free to use whatever you have—rotini, fusilli, shells, or gluten-free pasta all work well.
- Go dairy-free: Skip the Parmesan or use a dairy-free alternative. Nutritional yeast also adds a cheesy note without the cheese.
- Meal prep it: This dish reheats well and makes great leftovers for lunch the next day.
Ground Turkey Pasta With Spinach & Tomato
Ingredients
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
- 8 oz ground turkey
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced or finely chopped
- 3 tbsp parmesan
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add the onion and garlic. Cook with a drizzle of olive oil until fragrant and softened.
- Add the ground turkey, oregano, and a little salt and pepper to the pan. Cook, breaking up the turkey, for 5-7 minutes, until browned and cooked through.
- Meanwhile, cook the penne pasta according to package instructions.
- Once the pasta is cooked and drained, combine it with the turkey mixture, tomato sauce, and spinach in the pan.
- Stir everything together. Let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
If you make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @slimmingviolet – I love seeing what you’ve been making! I’d also really appreciate it if you could leave a quick review in the comments section below. It helps me to understand more about the recipes you enjoy, so I can create more that you’ll love!
