Turkish Pasta Ground Turkey (Printable)

A quick dish featuring pasta tossed with spiced ground turkey, creamy yogurt sauce, and paprika-infused butter.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or shells)
02 - Salt for boiling water

→ Ground Turkey Mixture

03 - 1 lb lean ground turkey
04 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 tsp ground cumin
08 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
09 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
10 - 1 tsp salt

→ Yogurt Sauce

11 - 1 ¼ cups plain Greek yogurt
12 - 1 clove garlic, grated
13 - ½ tsp salt
14 - Juice of ½ lemon

→ Paprika Butter

15 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
16 - 1 tsp sweet or smoked paprika
17 - ½ tsp Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Garnishes

18 - 2 tbsp fresh dill or parsley, finely chopped
19 - Extra yogurt or lemon wedges (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
03 - Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Incorporate ground turkey, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until browned and fully cooked.
04 - Season the turkey with cumin, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Stir to combine and cook an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
05 - Whisk Greek yogurt with grated garlic, salt, and lemon juice until smooth. Set aside.
06 - Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in paprika and Aleppo pepper if using, swirling until aromatic but not browned. Remove from heat.
07 - Toss drained pasta with turkey mixture, adding reserved pasta water gradually to achieve a silky consistency.
08 - Spread a generous spoonful of yogurt sauce on each plate. Top with pasta and turkey mixture, drizzle with paprika butter, and sprinkle with fresh dill or parsley.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes, which means a home-cooked dinner without the stress.
  • The paprika butter drizzle tastes like you've spent hours in the kitchen when you really haven't.
  • Lean ground turkey means you can eat generously without feeling heavy afterward.
  • The yogurt sauce is so silky and tangy that it transforms simple pasta into something special.
02 -
  • Don't skip reserving pasta water—it's the difference between a dry, separate dish and something silky and cohesive.
  • Cook the yogurt sauce separately and serve it cool against the warm pasta; mixing it directly into hot food can sometimes make it separate.
  • The paprika butter needs to be warm when you drizzle it so it stays glossy and fragrant rather than congealing on the plate.
03 -
  • Taste the turkey mixture before adding pasta water—you might need slightly more or less salt depending on your yogurt and pasta.
  • If you have time, let the yogurt sauce sit in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving; it becomes even creamier as it chills slightly.
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