Description
Hearty, flavorful and delicious, this easy ground turkey bolognese is combined with short pasta for a big plate of comfort food that is a balm to the soul. Totally gluten-free and dairy-free too!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) of pasta sauce
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt to taste
- 12 oz uncooked gluten-free short pasta
- 1/4 cup torn basil leaves for garnishing
- 1/2 cup grated dairy-free parmesan cheese, for garnishing
Instructions
- Combine Ground Turkey with Thyme: In a bowl, mix ground turkey with fresh thyme leaves and set aside.
- Sauté Veggies: Sauté diced onions in a large saucepan over medium heat, until onions turn translucent (a few minutes) Add in garlic and stir well until fragrant (30 seconds).
- Cook Turkey Until Browned: Add in ground turkey-thyme mixture and mix until turkey is browned and cooked.
- Add Pasta Sauce: Pour in pasta sauce and bring heat down to low.
- Let Simmer: Add salt to taste then let turkey bolognese simmer for the next 30 to 45 minutes.
- Cook Pasta: As bolognese sauce is almost finished simmering, cook gluten-free pasta according to package instructions. When the pasta is cooked, pour pasta into a strainer and run cold tap water over to prevent it from cooking further.
- Add Cooked Pasta to Bolognese Sauce: Once bolognese sauce is done, add in the cooked pasta and mix well.
- Garnish and Serve: Divide pasta evenly into 4 plates and garnish with torn basil leaves and grated dairy-free parmesan cheese.
Notes
Ground Turkey: Since this is a recipe for ground turkey bolognese, ground turkey is a key ingredient. However, you can always substitute minced turkey for other types of meat such as ground beef, ground pork or ground chicken if you prefer.
Thyme: I used fresh thyme leaves, but you can also use 1/3 teaspoon of dried thyme if that’s what you have.
Olive Oil: I like using extra virgin olive oil, but feel free to use any vegetable oil you like (such as canola oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil).
Onion: I used a yellow onion, but you can always use a white onion or red onion too.
Garlic: Make sure to use fresh minced garlic for maximum flavor. I really enjoy the taste of garlic, so I used 2 large cloves, but if you want a more subtle flavor, feel free to reduce the amount of garlic.
Pasta Sauce: You can either make your own pasta sauce or buy storebought sauce for convenience (either is fine).
Pasta: I used gluten-free short pasta to keep this recipe gluten-free, but you can go ahead and use gluten-free spaghetti as well. If you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, feel free to use regular pasta instead.
Basil: Fresh basil is a lovely complement to this ground turkey bolognese pasta. Alternatively, you may also use fresh parsley if you prefer.
Parmesan Cheese: I used dairy-free parmesan cheese to keep this recipe dairy-free. However, if you are not lactose-intolerant, go ahead and use regular grated parmesan cheese instead.
Storing: To store, place this ground turkey bolognese pasta in an airtight container and store for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Note: Recipe inspired by Juan’s mum, Susana. This recipe was originally posted in 2015, but has since been republished to included clearer step-by-step instructions, notes and substitutions, as well as nutritional information.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian