Turkish Pasta with Turkey (Print View)

Pasta tossed with spiced turkey, creamy yogurt sauce, and a drizzle of paprika butter for bold Turkish-inspired flavors.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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)

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 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. Stir in ground turkey, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until browned and cooked through.
04 - Add ground cumin, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt to the turkey. Stir to combine and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
05 - In a bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, 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 as needed to create a silky sauce.
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 Tips:

01 -
  • It feels restaurant-worthy but comes together faster than ordering takeout.
  • The yogurt sauce keeps everything moist and luxurious without heavy cream.
  • It's lean protein that actually tastes indulgent, which is a rare combination.
02 -
  • That reserved pasta water is liquid gold—it's starchy and it transforms a pile of ingredients into something cohesive and sauce-like.
  • Don't crowd the skillet when you add the turkey or it'll steam instead of brown, which means you lose those caramelized edges that taste incredible.
03 -
  • Make the yogurt sauce while the pasta water comes to a boil, so you're not scrambling at the end.
  • If you can't find Aleppo pepper, don't skip the paprika butter—even plain paprika makes a difference that shows in every bite.
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