Making your own turkey sausage is easier than you'd think, and this Turkey Sausage Pasta is ready in about 30 minutes, perfect for a busy weeknight. My kids loved it when they were younger, and honestly, they still do.
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Turkey - Keeps this dish lean without sacrificing heartiness.
- Fennel Seed - Fennel seed is what gives the turkey that savory, slightly sweet depth you'd expect from Italian sausage.
- Dried Thyme & Dried Sage - These two work together to round out the sausage flavor. Sage brings a subtle earthiness; thyme adds a little herbal warmth.
- Nutmeg - Just a pinch adds a quiet warmth that makes the sausage seasoning taste complete rather than flat.
- Red Pepper Flakes - Totally optional, but if your family likes a little heat, this is where to add it. Start with a pinch and adjust from there.
- Diced Tomatoes - Fire-roasted diced tomatoes are my favorite here. They add a subtle smokiness that takes the whole dish up a notch.
- Pasta Penne - My go-to because it holds onto the sauce, but any short pasta works well.
- Parmesan Cheese - Finish each bowl with a generous handful. It adds a salty, nutty note that ties everything together.
Step-by-Step Recipe Directions
To make Simple Turkey Sausage with Pasta, start by cooking the pasta. Boil a large pot of water and cook pasta to al dente per the package directions. Set the cooked pasta aside until ready to use.
Heat a large skillet or pot over medium heat to medium-high heat. Drizzle in some olive oil. Add the ground turkey and spices.
Mix the spices into the ground meat while breaking it up into smaller pieces. Continue to cook until the turkey is no longer pink.
Add a can of diced tomatoes to the cooked ground turkey. Stir in the tomatoes and heat for 1-2 minutes until warm.
Add the pasta and stir well, heating through and coating the pasta with the sauce.
The Simple Turkey Sausage with Pasta is ready to serve. Top with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese if desired.
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Recipe FAQ's
You can, but I'd encourage you to try the homemade version at least once first. The spice blend, especially the fennel seed and nutmeg, gives this dish a flavor that's hard to replicate with packaged sausage. If you're short on time, look for a mild or sweet Italian turkey sausage and remove it from the casing before cooking.
This is a hearty dish on its own, but a simple green salad with ranch dressing and some crusty bread to soak up the sauce. If I'm feeding a crowd, I'll add a side of roasted vegetables such as zucchini or broccoli.
Homemade turkey sausage pasta will typically last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.
Mom Tip
The spice blend in this recipe does double duty. After you've made it once, you'll want to keep these spices stocked. Try the same seasoning mix to make turkey sausage breakfast patties, or turn it into ground turkey tacos for a quick weeknight twist.
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Complete Recipe
Easy Homemade Turkey Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Turkey
- 1 teaspoon Fennel Seed
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Sage dried
- ½ teaspoon Thyme dried
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
- Pinch Red Pepper Flakes if desired
- 14.5 ounces Diced Tomatoes or more if desired *see notes
- 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil appx.
- 8 ounces Pasta Penne or your favorite
- Grated Parmesan Cheese if desired
Instructions
- Cook The pasta according to package directions, drain, and set aside.
- Heat a skillet over medium to medium-high heat.
- Drizzle olive oil, about 1 tablespoon into the hot skillet. Add the ground turkey and the spices.
- Using a wooden spoon, mix the spices into the ground meat while breaking it into pieces. Cook the ground turkey until no longer pink.
- Add the diced tomatoes and stir well. Heat through.
- Add the pasta and mix well. Stir until the pasta is well covered with the sauce and is heated through. Drizzle with more olive oil if desired.
- Top with Parmesan cheese and serve.
C says
Very flavorful! I also added a can of tomato sauce and a can of peas. Delicious!
Kelly Miller says
I'm LOVING all the spices in this one - I'm sure it's packed with flavor! Thank so much for sharing this on my Facebook page today! 🙂
Cook This Again says
I hope you enjoy it if you give it a try. My kids love it. 🙂
Phillip @ Southern FATTY says
Goodness! This looks delicious. Nothing better than a plate full of carbs!
-Phillip
Cook This Again says
Thank you!