If you love one pot meals like me, then you'll love this one pot turkey pasta recipe. Perfectly creamy and cheesy and super easy to make - with very little clean up.
This is the kind of dish I like to whip up using the Thanksgiving leftover turkey, or after Christmas. It's easy, the kids just love it and I've usually always got all the ingredients.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- Only the one pot to have to wash up.
- Using up the leftover turkey.
- You could use any leftover meat in this recipe. Ham, steak, pork chops....
🧅 Ingredients
- Olive Oil
- Onion
- Garlic
- Turkey
- Pasta
- Milk
- Chicken Broth
- Cajun Seasoning
- Mustard Powder
- Cornstarch
- Sharp White Cheddar
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.
🥣 Instructions
- Step 1: Add the olive oil to a heavy bottomed pot, like a Dutch Oven, turn on a medium-high heat.
- Step 2: Add the diced onions and cook until translucent. Add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes.
- Step 3: Add the turkey, chicken broth, milk, cajun seasoning, mustard powder and bring to a boil.
- Step 4: Turn down to a simmer, add the pasta, stir and cover the pot. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Step 5: Once the pasta has cooked all the way, mix the cornstarch with a little water and add to the pot. Stir to combine.
- Step 6: Once the pot has become bubbly again turn off the heat.
- Step 7: Stir well and add the grated white cheddar. Stir well to combine and until the cheese has all melted.
- Step 8: Serve while hot and season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste.
Hint: Use any leftover meat you have with this recipe. It works well. Or, you can brown some lean ground turkey, it works just as well.
🔄 Substitutions and Variations
- Parmesan Cheese - sprinkle a little at the end - or add some with the cheddar.
- Red Bell Pepper - add some for some added sweetness.
- Fresh Basil - add a little right at the end.
- Chili Powder - for some heat.
- Sour Cream - for richness.
- Green Chiles - for a more Mexican flavor.
- Garlic Powder - if you don't have fresh garlic.
- Red Pepper Flakes - for some added heat.
- Fresh Baby Spinach - add some at the end of the cooking time.
- Fresh Herbs - more seasoning ideas.
- Pasta - rotini pasta, shells, macaroni elbows, whole-wheat pasta - really here the world is your oyster. Any pasta is fine.
- Balsamic Vinegar - adds a silkiness to the sauce.
- Tomato Paste - to add more of a tomato based flavor to the sauce.
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🔌 Equipment
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
I like to use my big Dutch Oven for this recipe (I have an affiliate link in the recipe card below).
Or, you could use a large skillet too.
📘 Related Recipes
For another one pot meal - or there abouts - try this John Wayne Casserole. It's one of my favorite weeknight meals!
🧊 Storage
Once the dish has cooled completely store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
💡 Tips
Expert Tip: Swap out any pasta, any cheese, any leftover meat.
If you’ve tried this One Pot Turkey Pasta Recipe or any other great recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section below, how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers!
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One Pot Turkey Pasta
A tasty and creamy one pot turkey pasta that is simple yet hits all the right spots.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
- 1 Small Onion, diced
- 4 Garlic Cloves, Minced
- ½lb Leftover Turkey, chopped into small pieces
- 2 Cups Chicken Broth
- 1 Cup Milk
- 1 teaspoon Mustard Powder
- 1-½ teaspoons Cajun Seasoning
- 2-½ Cups Penne Pasta, uncooked
- 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1-½ Cups Sharp White Cheddar
Instructions
- In a large cooking pot, like a Dutch Oven, add the olive oil and heat over medium heat.
- Add the diced onions and cook for about 3-5 minutes, until the onions are translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and cook another 2 minutes, until fragrant.
- Add the turkey, chicken broth, milk, mustard powder and cajun seasoning. Bring to a boil.
- Add the pasta and give a good stir. Push down on the pasta to make sure it's all covered with the broth. Cover and turn down the heat to a simmer.
- Simmer for 10-12 minutes, without lifting the lid.
- After 10 minutes is up lift the lid and give a good stir. Check if the pasta is done. Cook a little longer if needed.
- Once the pasta has cooked, at least to al dente, mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of water. Pour into the pasta mixture and stir well.Once totally combined and the pot is bubbling again turn off the heat.
- Add the grated cheese to the pot and stir well to combine and melt.
Notes
I used leftover turkey from Thanksgiving in this recipe, but you could just as easily brown 1lb of ground turkey and use that instead.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 261Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 65mgSodium 746mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 19g
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