Lemon-Turkey Pasta Skillet

A vibrant and easy one-pan pasta dish featuring lean ground turkey, fresh spinach, and a zesty lemon-garlic sauce. Served with convenient garlic bread and a crisp Caesar salad for a complete and delicious weeknight meal.

• Prep: 10 min
• Cook: 20 min
• Total: 30 min
• Servings: 5
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Easy
• Cost: $4.28/serving

Dietary

• Low-Sugar
• High-Protein

Tags

• quick
• comfort food
• one-pot
• budget-friendly
• savory

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1.25 pound ground turkey (lean)
• 1 yellow onion (medium, diced)
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 2.5 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup milk (any fat percentage)
• 12 ounce rotini pasta (uncooked)
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 0.75 teaspoon kosher salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 lemon (zested, juiced)
• 5 ounce fresh spinach
• 0.75 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded, for serving)
• 1 package frozen garlic bread
• 10 ounce Caesar salad kit

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven or toaster oven according to the frozen garlic bread package directions (usually around 400°F). Bake the garlic bread while you prepare the pasta.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
3. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
4. Pour in 2 1/2 cups chicken broth and 1 cup milk. Add 12 ounces of uncooked rotini pasta, 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Stir to combine.
5. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
6. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the zest and juice from 1 lemon, and the 5 ounces of fresh spinach until the spinach wilts.
7. Prepare the Caesar salad kit according to package directions. Serve the Lemon-Turkey Pasta Skillet warm, topped with optional shredded Parmesan cheese, alongside the garlic bread and Caesar salad.

Notes

You can use any short pasta shape you prefer, such as penne or campanelle. For an even quicker meal, opt for pre-chopped onion and minced garlic.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 715
• Protein: 34.8 g
• Carbohydrates: 78.2 g
• Fat: 30.8 g
• Fiber: 3.4 g
• Sodium: 700 mg
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Sugar: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 48 mg