Cheesy Ground Turkey Pasta Meal (Print Version)

Rich, creamy pasta with ground turkey and two cheeses for a hearty, satisfying dinner any night of the week.

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta & Meat

01 - 340 g pasta (rigatoni, penne, or preferred shape)
02 - 450 g ground turkey
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Sauce

04 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 240 ml marinara sauce
07 - 240 ml chicken or vegetable broth
08 - 240 ml heavy cream
09 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
10 - 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
11 - Salt, to taste
12 - Black pepper, to taste

→ Cheese & Garnish

13 - 170 g shredded cheddar cheese
14 - 50 g grated Parmesan cheese
15 - Fresh parsley or basil, chopped, for garnish

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 120 ml of the cooking water before draining. Set the pasta aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned. Season with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Transfer the turkey to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Pour in the marinara sauce and broth, stirring to combine. Add heavy cream and, if using, red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Return the cooked turkey to the skillet and simmer for 5 minutes.
05 - Reduce the heat and gradually stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until fully melted and smooth. Add grated Parmesan cheese and mix thoroughly.
06 - Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce, stirring until well coated. If the sauce is too thick, incorporate some reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
07 - Remove from heat. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or basil and serve hot, optionally with extra Parmesan cheese.

# Additional Notes:

01 - For richer flavor, toast the spices briefly with the meat before adding liquids.
02 - Reserve some pasta cooking water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.

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