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Ground turkey spaghetti on a plate with pasta topped with sauce.
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Ground Turkey Spaghetti

This Ground Turkey Spaghetti is rich, savory, and so flavorful no one will tell it isn’t beef! It’s an easy family dinner even your pickiest eaters will love!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: ground turkey spaghetti
Servings: 6
Calories: 447kcal
Author: Erica Walker

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground turkey see notes above
  • 1 tablespoons avocado oil or cooking oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 4-5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds optional, if you want it to taste more like Italian sausage. Lightly crush them before adding to release the flavors.
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce use homemade or your favorite jarred sauce, see options above
  • 1 pound dry spaghetti

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
    Add butter and avocado oil and stir together until melted and hot.
    Spread the ground turkey out in the hot pan in a thin layer (as thin as you can get it) and leave it alone for 2-3 minutes before breaking it up into smaller pieces. This gives you some caramelization instead of a steamed texture.
    Skillet with ground turkey pressed flat in hot oil and butter.
  • While the turkey is browning, add diced onion, garlic, and salt. Cook until the onion becomes transparent and soft and the turkey is nicely browned.
    Skillet of ground turkey, onions and garlic with a wooden spoon.
  • Stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute. Add the soy sauce, basil, fennel seeds (optional) and black pepper. Stir until combined.
    Skillet of ground turkey and tomato paste with a wooden spoon.
  • Pour in the marinara, and simmer for 20–25 minutes.
    Skillet of ground turkey spaghetti sauce and wooden spoon.
  • While sauce is simmering, cook spaghetti according to package directions and drain. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water just in case you find your pasta getting dry later on.
    Colander with drained cooked spaghetti pasta.
  • Serve sauce over spaghetti noodles or toss the sauce and noodles together before serving.
    Ground turkey spaghetti on a plate with pasta topped with sauce.

Notes

  • For the best flavor and texture, use 93% lean ground turkey rather than extra-lean turkey breast.
  • Add the optional fennel seeds for more of an Italian sausage flavor.
  • Taste the sauce before adding extra salt since the soy sauce and marinara are already seasoned.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze the sauce for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 893mg | Potassium: 832mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 652IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 3mg