Turkey Bolognese – Easy One-Pot Pasta Dinner

This easy one-pot turkey bolognese is kid-approved, packed with protein, and perfect for busy weeknights.

One-Pot Turkey Bolognese

I’ve always loved a good bolognese sauce. It’s classic comfort food, and over the years I’ve shared several versions on Skinnytaste and in my cookbooks. This one-pot turkey bolognese cooks the pasta directly in the sauce, creating a rich, cohesive dish with less cleanup. While traditional bolognese is made with beef (and often pork), ground turkey works beautifully here, absorbing all the tomato, garlic, and herb flavors as it simmers. It’s exactly the kind of family-friendly dinner I rely on when I want something comforting yet practical for busy weeknights.

Bolognese is one of my all-time favorites—I’ve made it just about every way you can think of. I already have Instant Pot Beef Bolognese, Vegetarian Lentil Bolognese, and Slow Cooker Bolognese on the site, but one version was still missing: a lighter ground turkey take where the sauce and pasta cook together in the same pot for ultimate convenience. I love meals like this because they simplify both cooking and cleanup.

How to Make One Pot Turkey Bolognese

In this easy ground turkey pasta recipe, the meat, sauce, and pasta cook in the same pot. See the recipe card at the bottom for printable directions.

1. Brown the meat in a large pot and season with salt. When it’s no longer pink, remove it from the heat.
2. Sauté the vegetables in olive oil until soft, then add the tomato paste and garlic. Cook the tomato paste for a couple of minutes to caramelize it and deepen the flavor.
3. Stir in the remaining ingredients: pasta, cooked turkey, tomatoes, broth, and chili paste.
4. Cook the pasta and sauce: Bring the pot to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the pasta is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Make sure to stir it occasionally so the pasta cooks evenly and doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
5. Garnish: Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the parmesan. Serve the bolognese with parmesan, basil, and ricotta, if desired.

Testing Notes

I made this for my family and tested it with both ground turkey and ground bison, and both worked beautifully. I’ve been developing one-pot pasta recipes for several years, here’s a few tips to help you get the best results:

• Use short pasta that holds sauce well: Shapes like mezze rigatoni, penne, or rotini work best. Cooking times may vary slightly by brand and shape.
• Avoid protein and bronze-cut pasta: Protein pasta doesn’t release enough starch, which can leave the sauce too thin. Bronze-cut pasta releases too much starch in a one-pot recipe, which can make it gummy.
• Protein swaps work: Ground bison tasted great for another lean option, and lean ground beef can be used if preferred.
• Adjust the sauce if needed: If the pasta is cooked but there’s still extra liquid in the pan, simmer uncovered for a few minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta.

Serving Suggestions

Turkey bolognese pairs well with roasted vegetables, green salads, or bread. Here are some side dish recipes for inspiration.

Storage

• Refrigerate leftover pasta for up to 4 days.
• Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
• Reheat in the microwave until warm. The noodles may absorb some of the sauce, so if it’s too thick, add a splash of broth, water, or jarred marinara to thin it.

More One-Pot Pasta Recipes You’ll Love

For more dinner ideas using pasta, check out these five delicious one-pot recipes to inspire your next meal! If you’re looking for more easy, no-fuss ways to get dinner on the table, check out my Skinnytaste One and Done cookbook.