This one-pot Italian-style Ground Turkey Spaghetti recipe will have you saying wow! It’s a perfect option for a quick and easy family dinner on weeknights that even the kids will enjoy. What makes this spaghetti recipe extra special is the addition of ground Italian sausage for a more authentic flavor that also adds another layer of delicious flavor to every bite!
It’s always great to have an easy go-to dinner recipe on hand, and this ground turkey spaghetti sauce is definitely one to try! It’s delicious and satisfying, making it the perfect dish for a night when you want to keep things simple and minimize the dishes you need to clean. Once you try it, you’ll find yourself craving it again and again! It’s even better paired with some other spaghetti dinner favorites, like garlic bread and a fresh Italian side salad!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Excellent Choice for Dinner – Whether you’re feeding a hungry family with kids or looking for a romantic pasta dinner, you’ll love how easy and delicious this spaghetti with ground turkey is.
- Insanely Delicious – Italian sausage and ground turkey simmer in a savory tomato sauce, creating a flavorsome blend of flavors.
- One-pot Goodness – The ground turkey spaghetti sauce builds its flavor quickly in a heavy-bottom pot, like a Dutch oven, and comes together in 30 minutes! Just toss in cooked spaghetti, and you’re ready for dinner!
Recipe Notes
This spaghetti recipe with ground turkey is as simple as promised! Just one pot and under 30 minutes to create a delicious sauce for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make turkey meat spaghetti sauce to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Ground turkey – You’ll need 1 pound of ground turkey for this spaghetti recipe.
- Ground Italian sausage – I highly recommend adding 1/2 pound of Italian sausage. Trust me, it will take your dish to the next level of yumminess! Although you can use more ground turkey or beef instead, you’ll be missing out on the authentic Italian taste that the sausage brings.
- Canned tomatoes – I use a combination of fire-roasted diced tomatoes, Italian-seasoned diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce. You can use regular canned diced tomatoes and just add more spices if preferred!
- Onion – The start of your sauce to build a flavorful base.
- Spaghetti noodles – Cook the noodles separately and keep to the side until ready to toss into the spaghetti sauce.
- Seasonings – If you want to swap out any of the dry herbs for fresh herbs, multiply the amount of dry by 3. So ¼ teaspoon dried thyme would amount to ¾ teaspoon fresh chopped thyme.
- Sugar – A secret ingredient that helps to balance the acidity of the tomatoes, resulting in a smoother flavored sauce.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Baked Turkey Spaghetti -This recipe can be transformed into baked spaghetti with layers of sauce, noodles, and an extra special topping of cheese, similar to my Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti recipe.
- Ground Turkey Spaghetti Squash – Want a low-carb spaghetti recipe? Roast halved spaghetti squash and then fill it with your ground turkey spaghetti sauce and a little bit of cheese on top!
- Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs – Instead of cooking the ground turkey and Italian sausage into the sauce, make easy Italian turkey meatballs!
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make ground turkey spaghetti.
Heat a large heavy bottom pot, like a Dutch oven, over medium heat. Add the ground turkey, Italian sausage, and onion. Cook until browned, draining any excess fat or liquid before the next step.
Add the canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings to the cooked meat and onion mixture and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low and allow to simmer for about 20 minutes. Stir in the sugar.
Right before serving, toss in your cooked spaghetti pasta.
Recipe Tips
- Italian sausage – You can use ground Italian sausage or links and bust out the meat from the casing. For a little extra bite, use spicy sausage.
- Substitute the pork – If you prefer to only use turkey you can but the flavor of the spaghetti sauce will change a little. You can sub for ground beef, a little more ground turkey or chicken, or fry up some crumbled bacon.
- Pack it full of veggies – Spaghetti sauce is a great way to sneak in more veggies! Sautee some zucchini, carrot, or mushrooms while cooking the meat. It will melt into it seamlessly.
- Swap out the pasta – Spaghetti noodles are the go-to here, but you can easily use penne or another favorite pasta to toss into the sauce!
- Make it spicy – One easy way to boost the flavor of your turkey spaghetti sauce is to add red pepper flakes. It’s all about the timing here. Add at the very beginning for a full-on spicy sauce, or simply sprinkle some on your plate before enjoying!
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Use pre-chopped onions – Keep prep to a minimum with a container of chopped onions.
- Make the sauce ahead of time– Make a large batch of sauce and store it in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Warm it up when you need it and toss it with your pasta.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this spaghetti with turkey meat sauce recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Prepare the red meat sauce as instructed, skipping the step for cooking the pasta, and allow it to cool completely
- Transfer to a freezer-safe container and store.
- When ready to enjoy, thaw the sauce overnight in the refrigerator .Then, transfer to a pot and warm until heated through.
- Cook the pasta fresh and toss into the meat marinara sauce, or serve the sauce of your pasta.
What to Serve with Turkey Spaghetti
Since this protein-based dinner has delicious Italian flavors it will pair well with many of your favorite spaghetti side dishes. Be sure to check out my full list of the Best Sides for Spaghetti for even more ideas!
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Roasted Browned Butter Broccoli – A nice pairing to a savory sauce!
- Classic Bruschetta – Toss diced tomatoes, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper together and spread onto sliced bread with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
- Pesto Cheese Bread – If you love Italian flavors, then this herby, cheesy bread is a bright and flavorful contrast to the rich sauce.
- Side Salad– With homemade dressing makes all the difference!
Turkey Spaghetti Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Recipe FAQ’s
How to season ground turkey for spaghetti?
Using a combination of Italian seasonings and onions elevates the flavor of the ground turkey in your spaghetti sauce.
How do you cook ground turkey for spaghetti?
Crumbling the turkey in a hot pan until cooked through.
How do I make ground turkey more flavorful?
If you want to make your spaghetti sauce with ground turkey more flavorful, you can allow the meat to brown a little. This will intensify the flavor even more. Adding another protein such as pork (Italian sausage works best) will help to boost the flavor of the meat.
More EASY Spaghetti Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy dinner recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Spaghetti Marinara
- Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs (Healthy Crockpot Recipe)
- Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce
- Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti
Ground Turkey Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 16 ounces spaghetti
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 can tomato sauce, (15 ounce)
- 1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes, (14.5 ounce)
- 1 can Italian-style diced tomatoes, (14.5 ounce)
- 1 can tomato paste, (6 ounce)
Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
Instructions
- Boil the spaghetti noodles to al dente per the package instructions. Once done drain the water.
- While the spaghetti cooks, heat a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground turkey, Italian sausage and onion and cook until browned, about 6-8 minutes. Once done, drain any excess fat or liquid.
- Add all of the remaining ingredients except the sugar to the pot and mix to combine then bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and allow the sauce to a simmer for 20 minutes. Last, stir in the sugar, then toss with the pasta and serve immediately. Alternately, serve the spaghetti onto each plate and top with sauce.
Recipe Notes
- Ground Turkey – You can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken if you want to lighten it up a bit.
- Italian sausage – You can use ground Italian sausage or links and bust out the meat from the casing. For a little extra bite, use spicy sausage. If you prefer to only use turkey you can but the flavor of the spaghetti sauce will change a little.
- Onion – Yellow or white onions will both work.
- Dried herbs – If you want to swap out any of the dry herbs for fresh herbs, multiply the amount of dry by 3. So ¼ teaspoon dried thyme would amount to ¾ teaspoon fresh chopped thyme.
- Garlic powder – You could substitute 2 tablespoons fresh grated or minced garlic instead, but garlic powder is the quickest and easiest option.
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
- Allow the sauce to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container: gallon ziptop bags, mason jars, or containers with lids. Then, spoon the sauce into the container.
- If freezing in a zip-top bag, place the bag flat on a baking sheet and in the freezer. Once frozen, you can stack them more easily. Be sure to label the sauce with a name and date.
- In the microwave on 30 second increments, stir and continue until heated through.
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