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Creamy Tomato Ground Turkey with Pappardelle

weeknightcomfort-fooditalian-inspired
10 minPrep20 minCook4Serves

Ingredients

  • 1 poundground turkey
  • ·yellow onion
  • ·garlic
  • 1 can (28 oz)crushed tomatoes
  • ½ cupheavy cream
  • 1 poundpappardelle pasta
  • 2 tablespoonolive oil
  • ·salt
  • ·black pepper
  • ·fresh basil
  • ·parmesan cheese

Prep

  1. 01

    Dice 1 medium yellow onion.

  2. 02

    Mince 3 cloves garlic.

  3. 03

    Tear or chop a small handful of fresh basil for garnish.

Method

  1. 01

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pappardelle and cook according to package directions until al dente; drain and set aside.

  2. 02

    While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon, and cook until no pink remains, about 5–6 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

  3. 03

    In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

  4. 04

    Pour in the can of crushed tomatoes (with juice) and stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Return the cooked turkey to the skillet and simmer for 5 minutes.

  5. 05

    Reduce heat to low and stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream until combined. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce is silky and warm.

  6. 06

    Toss the cooked pappardelle with the sauce. Divide among bowls and top with fresh basil and grated parmesan cheese.

Spice Tips

For a subtle pepper note, add 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper when simmering the sauce. If you like heat, stir in a pinch of red pepper flakes after adding the garlic. For earthiness, a pinch of dried oregano layered with the tomatoes adds depth.

Make this dish ahead: cool the sauce completely, refrigerate for up to 3 days, then gently reheat over low heat and toss with fresh pasta. If you don't have pappardelle, any wide or ribbon pasta works beautifully—fettuccine or tagliatelle are great swaps.

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