Easiest Ground Turkey Spaghetti (6-Ingredients!)
The easiest ground turkey spaghetti you’ll find, this recipe combines 6 simple ingredients like garlicky marinara sauce, a few simple spices, and ground turkey for a flavor packed meal that’s nearly effortless! So simple and full of flavor it’s a protein packed and satisfying meal and includes instructions for cooking on the stovetop in just 30-minutes, as well as for a hands-off simmer in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Visual Guide: How to Make Turkey Spaghetti
Testing Notes from Robyn
This spaghetti sauce with turkey has become a once-a-week staple for my family, especially for night’s when my daughter has track practice or soccer.
On those nights, I need something ready to eat when we get home, and I want a meal that my who family loves and is filling and nutritious – and this recipe fits the bill!
While it’s delicious as is with tender ground turkey and a garlicky tomato sauce, what’s great about this recipe is it’s so versatile.
Use your favorite marinara, swap the protein, add more veggies, and even use the cooking method that works best for you!
For more easy ground turkey recipes for busy nights, make sure to check out my slow cooker turkey sloppy joes and slow cooker turkey recipes.
How to Make This Recipe Even Easier
I call for my easy homemade marinara sauce in this ground turkey spaghetti sauce, which I pretty much always have on hand because it’s easy to make, and I use it in so many of my recipes (like ground turkey pasta and slow cooker turkey meatballs). But, if you’re in a pinch, you can use your favorite high-quality jarred marinara sauce.
3 Cooking Method Options
I tested 3 different cooking methods for this spaghetti with turkey meat and am sharing them all with you in the recipe below depending on how much time you have and what you’re looking for.
The stove-top option is the quickest (comes together in 30 minutes), so it’s a perfect last-minute meal. While it comes together fast, I will say that the turkey isn’t as tender and the sauce’s flavor isn’t as developed as the other cooking methods.
The slow cooker method is probably my favorite since it’s hands-off and produces a sauce that has that rich, slow-cooked flavor with tender turkey. I also have a slow cooker spaghetti sauce if you’re looking for a spaghetti sauce with beef.
The instant pot method offers another hand-off option that results in tender meat and delicious sauce, and it comes together a bit faster than the slow cooker method. Just make sure to read the instructions carefully so as not to burn the sauce.
Easy Variations & Substitutions
- Low carb: To make this a low carb dinner, serve the spaghetti sauce on top of zucchini or squash noodles.
- Gluten free: Swap the spaghetti with gluten-free spaghetti or your favorite gluten-free noodle.
- Turkey marinara sandwich: Serve this hearty sauce in a sub and top with fresh mozzarella.
- Add more veggies: Sneak in some additional veggies for picky eaters. Riced cauliflower, diced zucchini, shredded carrots, or diced mushrooms all work really well in this recipe.
- Stuffed shells: Instead of the beef sauce in my stuffed shells, use this lighter ground turkey sauce.
- Swap the meat: While this is a great recipe for ground turkey, you can use another ground meat if you prefer, such as lean ground beef or ground chicken.
- Substitutions: If you don’t have fresh garlic, granulated garlic works well. Similarly, if you don’t have Italian seasoning, use a mixture of dried basil, dried oregano, and dried parsley.
How to Meal Prep the Best Turkey Spaghetti Sauce
This ground turkey spaghetti sauce is a meal prep magic recipe!
It is so easy to double or triple the recipe, it freezes so well, and is just as delicious when it’s reheated.
Simple double or triple the recipe, portion the extra sauce in freezer friendly containers for a future meal (it keeps in the freezer for up to 3 months).
This Recipe Is…
Easiest Ground Turkey Spaghetti (6-Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1 ½ pounds 93% lean ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon no-salt added Italian seasoning
- 24-ounces marinara sauce
- 1 pound spaghetti
Instructions
Stovetop Instructions
- Heat a large pot or Dutch over medium heat. Add the olive oil and onion, sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the turkey, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt, garlic, and Italian seasoning, then stir to break apart. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the marinara, stirring to combine. Cover, bring to a rapid simmer, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the turkey spaghetti simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions. Drain, toss with spaghetti sauce, and serve.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and onion, sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the turkey, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt, garlic, and Italian seasoning, then stir to break apart. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the turkey-onion mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the marinara, stirring to combine.
- Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or low for 4-5 hours, or until the turkey is very tender.
- While the turkey spaghetti cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions. Drain, toss with spaghetti sauce, and serve.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Set a 6-quart pressure cooker to saute. Allow to preheat, then add the olive oil and onion, sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently
- Add the turkey, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt, garlic, and Italian seasoning, then stir to break apart. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
- Pour over the marinara sauce. Do not stir. Seal and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Quick release or allow for natural release.
- While the turkey spaghetti cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions. Drain, toss with spaghetti sauce, and serve.
