Ingredients
For the turkey meat sauce:
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the spaghetti:
- 1 pound spaghetti
- Salt for cooking pasta
Instructions
To make the turkey meat sauce, heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for a few minutes until the onion is soft. Add the ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt and black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
While the sauce is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
Add the reserved pasta water to the turkey meat sauce and stir to combine.
Serve the spaghetti topped with the turkey meat sauce. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
This recipe serves 6.
Nutrition
This spaghetti with turkey meat sauce recipe is a healthier alternative to traditional spaghetti with meat sauce made with beef. One serving contains approximately:
- Calories: 430
- Protein: 28g
- Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 67g
- Sugar: 11g
- Fiber: 7g
- Sodium: 780mg
The ground turkey is a leaner protein source than beef, and the use of crushed tomatoes and tomato paste instead of a heavy cream-based sauce reduces the fat content. The addition of whole wheat spaghetti can also increase the fiber content of the dish.
Overall, this spaghetti with turkey meat sauce recipe is a tasty and nutritious option for a weeknight dinner or a weekend meal.
