Sweet & Spicy Turkey Broccoli Pasta (Printable Version)

Lean turkey and crisp broccoli in a sweet-spicy glazed sauce, tossed with penne for a quick weeknight dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne pasta

→ Turkey & Vegetables

02 - 1 lb lean ground turkey
03 - 2 cups small broccoli florets
04 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 green onions, sliced

→ Sauce

07 - 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
08 - 2 tablespoons honey
09 - 2 tablespoons sriracha or chili garlic sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
12 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water

→ Garnish

13 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
14 - Fresh cilantro or basil leaves

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain and set aside.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes.
03 - Add broccoli florets, red bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until vegetables are bright and just tender.
04 - In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sriracha, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Stir in the cornstarch slurry.
05 - Pour the sauce over the turkey and vegetables. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens, about 1 to 2 minutes.
06 - Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing to combine. If needed, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce coats the pasta evenly.
07 - Remove from heat. Stir in green onions. Garnish with sesame seeds and fresh herbs if desired.
08 - Serve hot immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes flat, which means you can actually eat dinner before 8 pm on a weeknight.
  • The sauce clings to every bite with this glossy, just-thick-enough coating that makes lean turkey taste genuinely luxurious.
  • It's naturally dairy-free but doesn't taste like it's missing anything, so no one at the table feels like they're eating health food.
02 -
  • Reserve that pasta water before you drain; it's liquid gold for adjusting sauce consistency, and you can't get it back once it's gone down the sink.
  • Don't skip the cornstarch slurry mixed in a separate bowl, or you'll end up with gluey clumps instead of a smooth sauce that actually coats the pasta.
03 -
  • Cut your broccoli into genuinely small florets because they cook faster and look more elegant mixed into the pasta than chunky pieces do.
  • Toast your sesame oil lightly in the pan before adding other liquids if you want the flavor to shine even brighter, though it's not necessary.
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