Sweet & Spicy Turkey Broccoli Pasta (Printable Version)

Tender turkey, crisp broccoli, and bold sweet-spicy sauce tossed with penne pasta.

# What 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, low-sodium preferred
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

# Directions:

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 with a spoon, until no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Add chopped onion, minced garlic, and diced red bell pepper to the turkey. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
04 - Add broccoli florets and cook for 3-4 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sriracha, vinegar, sesame oil, and black pepper until fully 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, approximately 1-2 minutes.
08 - Transfer to serving plates. Garnish with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and optional cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sweet-and-spicy sauce hits differently every time, balanced enough to let the turkey shine but bold enough to make your taste buds wake up.
  • Everything comes together in one skillet after the pasta drains, which means fewer dishes and more time actually enjoying dinner.
  • It's a sneaky way to get vegetables into dinner without anyone noticing they're eating a broccoli situation.
02 -
  • Don't crowd the turkey in the pan at the beginning, or it'll steam instead of brown, and all that caramelized flavor you're after disappears.
  • Toasted sesame oil is non-negotiable because regular sesame oil tastes thin and boring in comparison, and it's what makes the sauce actually taste like something special.
  • If your sauce seems too thick or too thin once it hits the pan, you can loosen it with a splash of water or pasta cooking water to get the consistency you want.
03 -
  • Cook the pasta just under al dente because it'll continue cooking slightly when you toss it with the hot turkey and sauce.
  • If you're making this for people with dietary restrictions, swap the soy sauce for tamari and use gluten-free pasta, and nobody will know the difference.
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