Creamy Lemon-Herb Ground Turkey Pasta with Spinach
"A comforting yet bright pasta dish featuring lean ground turkey, tender spinach, and a luscious lemon-herb cream sauce. Quick to prepare and perfectly portioned for two, it's an ideal weeknight meal."
Ingredients
All Steps
- 1
Cook penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 0.5 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- 2
While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- 3
Add the chopped small yellow onion to the skillet with the turkey and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 4
Pour in chicken broth, fresh lemon juice (from 0.5 lemon), and heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- 5
Add fresh spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring, until wilted, which should take about 1-2 minutes.
- 6
Stir in the cooked and drained pasta, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley, salt, and black pepper. If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
- 7
Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of lemon zest, if desired.