Creamy Ground Turkey Spinach Pasta
A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring lean ground turkey, fresh spinach, and a rich, tangy cream cheese sauce served over pasta. Ready in under 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground turkey (93/7 or 99/0)
- 8 ounces penne or rotini pasta
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 5 ounces fresh baby spinach
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining, then set aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add ground turkey to the skillet. Break it up with a wooden spoon and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 1 minute.
- Add softened cream cheese to the skillet. Stir constantly until melted and combined with the broth and turkey (2-3 minutes).
- Stir in heavy cream and red pepper flakes. Simmer gently for 2 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Toss in fresh spinach and stir until completely wilted (about 1 minute).
- Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat evenly. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water gradually to reach desired consistency.
- Remove from heat. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure it melts smoothly. Reserve pasta water to help emulsify the sauce and adjust consistency. For a vegetarian version, swap turkey for lentils or chickpeas. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days; add milk or water when reheating as the sauce thickens.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: ground turkey pasta, creamy spinach pasta, easy weeknight dinner, healthy pasta recipe, one pot pasta, quick meals