One-Pot Cheesy Ground Turkey Pasta: Budget-Friendly, Kid-Approved

Some nights, you just need a win.

The kind of dinner win that makes your whole kitchen smell amazing and gets your kids to the table without the usual back-and-forth. One pot, no drama, nothing fancy—just cheesy, filling, and done. This cheesy ground turkey pasta is exactly that.

And if you’re already hunting down ground turkey recipes that actually taste good (and don’t dry out!), then you’re in the right place.

What Makes This Pasta Different?

There’s no shortage of one pot pasta ideas on the internet. But let’s be honest, half of them either taste like canned soup or leave you with a sink full of dishes anyway. This one? It pulls off the trifecta: cheap, easy, and actually delicious.

We’re using ground turkey here for a bunch of reasons. First off, price. Where I live, ground turkey is almost always half the price of ground beef, pound for pound. When you’re feeding a family or stretching meals to get through the week, that adds up fast.

Second, turkey is leaner, but not in a sad diet-y way. It still gives you the protein boost you want, just without all the grease. And when you pair it with melty cheddar, mozzarella, a splash of cream, and your favorite pasta sauce? You’re not missing out on anything.

A Smarter Way to Do Pasta Night

This dish doesn’t ask a lot from you. Brown some meat, throw in some chopped veggies, dump in your dry pasta, and let it all simmer together. The noodles cook in the sauce, which means more flavor and fewer dishes.

We go just cheesy enough here—about a half cup each of mozzarella and sharp cheddar, plus a little Parmesan to round it out. It’s creamy and satisfying without turning into a cheese bomb (unless you’re into that, in which case, pile it on).

Why Ground Turkey Deserves More Respect

Ground beef gets all the attention, but turkey can carry a dish just as well. It’s got a mild flavor that plays nice with sauces, herbs, and cheese. And it doesn’t leave that heavy, greasy feeling behind.

It also cooks fast, which makes it perfect for weeknight meals. You don’t need to drain off a bunch of fat. You don’t have to babysit it. And if you season it well (this recipe does), no one at the table is gonna miss the beef.

Not only that, this recipe is a proven winner with my dad, who is trying to cut down on his cholesterol intake. So win-win all the way around!

Bonus: it reheats like a dream. If you’re into leftovers, you’re golden.

The Recipe: Cheesy One-Pot Ground Turkey Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb lean ground turkey
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 12 oz pasta (penne or rotini work well)
• 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
• 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 2 cups fresh spinach (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish

Instructions

1. Sauté onion and garlic:
   Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
2. Cook the turkey:
   Add ground turkey, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Break it apart with a spoon and cook until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes.
3. Add vegetables:
   Stir in mushrooms and bell pepper. Cook for about 4-5 minutes until just tender.
4. Add pasta, marinara, and broth:
   Stir in uncooked pasta, marinara sauce, and chicken broth. Make sure the pasta is fully submerged. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 14-16* minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender.
5. Make it creamy and cheesy:
   Stir in heavy cream, mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese. Mix until everything is melted and combined into a creamy, cheesy sauce.
6. Add spinach (optional):
   Fold in spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes until wilted.
7. Taste and garnish:
   Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil or parsley if desired.

*A note on pasta cook time: Pasta cook time will differ depending on what pasta you select – bigger pasta means longer cook time. I find that pasta does not cook as fast in sauce as it does in water, so you will likely need to adjust the time according to the pasta you choose and how well you like it cooked (I ended up cooking my penne pasta for an extra couple of minutes and also let it sit for 5 minutes before adding the cream and cheeses).

Tips, Swaps & Real-Life Notes

• You can use whatever pasta you’ve got, but shorter shapes like penne or rotini work best. Just don’t go for anything too thin like angel hair—it’ll turn to mush.
• No mushrooms? Skip ‘em or sub with zucchini, spinach, or even frozen peas.
• Want to stretch it even more? Add a drained can of white beans or some chopped cooked broccoli near the end.
• If your sauce is on the thinner side, let it simmer with the lid off for a bit longer so it thickens up.
• Cheese selection – this recipe is very forgiving and accepts a wide variety of cheese option. I had original planned for shredded parmesan, but I didn’t have any so I substituted feta instead. It turned out great!

And please, don’t stress if you forget to stir it once or twice. I’ve scorched the bottom before and it still turned out fine. Scrape the good stuff off the top and keep it moving.

Why This Recipe Gets a Permanent Spot in My Binder

I’ve tried a lot of pasta recipes over the years. Some are great once, but then you never make them again. This one’s different. It’s forgiving. It’s adaptable. It’s kid-approved, but also grown-up enough to take to a potluck and not feel embarrassed.

And honestly? It just works. Whether I’m wiped out from work, low on groceries, or trying to clean out the fridge, this pasta meets me where I’m at.

You don’t need a pantry full of special ingredients. You don’t need to prep a bunch of stuff ahead of time. And you definitely don’t need to eat another bland turkey dish just because it was on sale.

So if you’re looking for ground turkey recipes that are actually worth repeating, start here. Cheesy ground turkey pasta might not win any fancy awards, but it wins dinner. And some days, that’s the only kind of win that matters.

Let me know if you try it. I’d love to hear what you swapped, skipped, or added—because let’s be real, no one makes the same pasta twice.

Looking for more pasta dinner ideas? Check out this list of 25 delicious pasta recipes you can make tonight!