Sweet & Spicy Turkey Broccoli Pasta (Printable Version)

Tender turkey and crisp broccoli tossed in sweet-spicy sauce with penne. Ready in 30 minutes for busy weeknights.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne pasta

→ Turkey & Vegetables

02 - 1 lb ground turkey
03 - 2 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
04 - 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Sweet & Spicy Sauce

08 - 1/4 cup soy sauce
09 - 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar
10 - 1 1/2 tbsp sriracha or chili garlic sauce
11 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
12 - 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
13 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

→ Garnish

14 - 2 green onions, sliced
15 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
16 - Shredded parmesan or feta cheese (optional)

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it apart, until no longer pink (about 5 minutes).
03 - Add chopped onion, garlic, and red bell pepper to the turkey. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
04 - Add broccoli florets and cook for another 3-4 minutes until bright green and just tender.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sriracha, vinegar, sesame oil, and black pepper until combined.
06 - Pour sauce over turkey and vegetables. Stir to coat evenly and simmer for 2 minutes.
07 - Add drained penne to the skillet. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through (about 1-2 minutes).
08 - Transfer to serving plates and garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and optional cheese.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Everything comes together in one skillet after the pasta boils, so cleanup is mercifully quick.
  • The sweet and spicy sauce clings to every piece of penne and makes leftovers taste even better the next day.
  • You can dial the heat up or down without losing any of the flavor depth.
  • It feels like takeout but costs a fraction of the price and uses ingredients you probably already have.
02 -
  • Don't skip salting the pasta water, it's your only chance to season the noodles from the inside out.
  • Make the sauce in advance and taste it before adding it to the skillet so you can adjust the spice level without guessing.
  • If the broccoli is too large, it won't cook through in time and you'll end up with crunchy stems and overcooked turkey.
  • Toss the pasta in the skillet off the heat if it starts to stick or dry out, adding a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for thirty seconds before sprinkling them on top, it wakes up their nutty flavor and makes them taste fresher.
  • If your skillet isn't big enough to toss the pasta comfortably, transfer everything to the empty pasta pot and mix it there instead.
  • Keep a jar of this sauce base in the fridge and use it for stir-fries, grain bowls, or even as a marinade for chicken thighs.
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