Easy Shell Pasta with Ground Turkey1

This easy weeknight Ground Turkey Pasta combines lean ground turkey, tender pasta shells, and a rich, savory tomato sauce in 30 minutes or less. Perfect for families and customizable with your favorite vegetables and spices.

My ground turkey pasta is a versatile, easy-to-make pasta recipe perfect for busy weeknights. It’s a crowd-pleaser that combines the hearty, satisfying pasta with lean protein, all smothered in a delicious tomato sauce.

I also like to add mushrooms and bell peppers to give it depth of flavor, add fiber, and sneak in some seasonal produce. Much like my roasted tomato and bell pepper pasta and my chicken fajita pasta!

It comes together with fridge and pantry staples such as canned tomato sauce, beef broth, Italian seasoning, garlic, and veggies!

But one of the best things about this recipe is its simplicity. With just a few basic ingredients and straightforward steps, you can quickly prepare a delicious, homemade meal. It’s one of my family’s go-to recipes for a satisfying weeknight dinner, and it doubles as a perfect meal prep recipe, too!

Why this recipe works

• 30-minute meal!
• The sauce coats the pasta perfectly.
• Ideal for weekday dinners or meal prep.
• Easy to customize based on what you have!

How to make ground turkey pasta

(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)

Cook the ground turkey

Sauté

Sauté the veggies with garlic and seasonings. Add flour & stir to combine, the flour will act as a thickening agent and creates a rich, creamy sauce that coats the pasta more evenly.

Pour it all in!

Add in the tomato sauce and broth; bring it to a simmer. Then add the cooked ground turkey…we’re almost done!

Add the good stuff

The good stuff as in: cooked shell pasta, heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. YUM!

Voila!

It may seem soupy at first; just simmer and stir occasionally until the sauce thickens. Then serve with fresh basil, more Parmesan and maybe some black pepper or chili flakes.

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Easy Shell Pasta with Ground Turkey1

Author: Admin Cuisine: Italian, Turkey Courses: Dinner Recipe Keys: P Pasta S Shell Pasta

Difficulty: Beginner

Servings: 6

Description

This easy weeknight Ground Turkey Pasta combines lean ground turkey, tender pasta shells, and a rich, savory tomato sauce in 30 minutes or less.

Ingredients

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

• 12 oz. medium shell pasta (or pasta of choice)
• 1 lb. (16 oz.) ground turkey
• 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¹⁄₂ large red bell pepper, diced small
• 4 oz. white mushrooms, thinly sliced or diced small
• ¹⁄₂ large white onion, diced
• 1 tsp. salt (taste and add more as desired)
• 1 tsp. salt (taste and add more as desired)
• 1 tsp. salt (taste and add more as desired)
• 2 Tbsp. all purpose flour
• 2 cups beef broth (or chicken broth)
• 1, (15oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ▢¹⁄₂ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Instructions

1. • • Boil the water for the pasta and follow directions on the shell pasta box. Typically 8-10 minutes to cook medium shells.
       12 oz. medium shell pasta
       

    

   • • In a Dutch oven or wide stock pot, heat 2 Tbsp. of the olive oil over medium heat and cook the ground turkey. Season the ground turkey with salt and pepper. Once cooked, drain excess fat/liquid in the pan and place the ground turkey in a bowl and set aside.
       3 Tbsp. olive oil, 1 lb. (16 oz.) ground turkey
       

    

   • • Then, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the same pan. Sauté the garlic, bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning until fragrant (about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally). Then, whisk in the flour until combined.
       2 cloves garlic, minced, 1/2 large red bell pepper, diced small, 4 oz. white mushrooms, thinly sliced or diced small, 1/2 large white onion, diced, 1 tsp. salt (taste and add more as desired), 1/2 tsp. pepper, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, 2 Tbsp. all purpose flour
       

    

   • • Pour in the beef broth and tomato sauce and let it come to a simmer. Then add in the cooked ground turkey.
       2 cups beef broth (or chicken broth), 1, (15oz.) can tomato sauce
       

   • • Pour in the cooked shells or pasta of choice, heavy cream, and Parmesan. Stir to combine.
       1 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
       

   • Taste and adjust salt and pepper or other seasonings as desired. It may seem soupy initially; just simmer and stir occasionally until the sauce thickens. If you would like it creamier, add more heavy cream. Garnish with fresh basil and more Parmesan cheese and enjoy! The pasta will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
     fresh basil for garnish (optional)
     

Nutrition Facts

Servings 6

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 569kcal

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 27g42%

Saturated Fat 12g60%

Trans Fat 0.01g

Sodium 487mg21%

Potassium 571mg17%

Total Carbohydrate 51g17%

Sugars 4g

Protein 32g64%

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Vitamin A 1112 IU

Vitamin C 19 mg

Calcium 166 mg

Iron 2 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

• Other seasonings that make a great addition but are not necessary include garlic powder, onion powder, fennel seed, red pepper chili flakes, dried oregano, and even a pinch of cayenne. 
• You may substitute shell pasta for a different-shaped pasta, such as rotini or penne. I’ve even made it with cheese tortellini and added spinach for a fun twist!
• If you make it with more pasta (16 oz box of shells), add in more heavy cream or tomato sauce. 
• To make as a pasta bake: Cook the recipe as written, and then place everything in an oven-safe dish (or leave it in a Dutch oven), top with Parmesan or even shredded mozzarella cheese and bake at 350° F. for an additional 20 minutes or until everything is hot and bubbly. 

Keywords: stuffed pasta shells, ricotta stuffed shells, baked shells, cheese stuffed shells, spinach and ricotta shells