Two bowls of macaroni and cheese with ground meat and greens on a white background

Cheesy Turkey Pasta Skillet

Lean ground turkey transforms into a creamy, cheesy one-skillet wonder with tender elbow pasta in a rich cheddar sauce, delivering all the comfort of a classic mac and cheese with added protein and bold flavor.

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  • Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 lb ground turkey
    • 1 yellow onion, chopped
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 3 cups chicken broth, divided
    • 1 cup milk
    • 1 box (12 oz) Carbe Diem!™ Elbows Pasta
    • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
    • 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
    • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, if desired
  • Steps

    1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add turkey and onion and cook until browned and onion is softened, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook until caramelized, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, chili powder, salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute more.
    2. Add 2 1/2 cups of the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Stir in milk and elbows and reduce heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring every few minutes, until pasta is just under al dente, about 12 minutes.
    3. In a small bowl, whisk remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth with cornstarch. Add to pasta in skillet and cook, stirring well, until sauce is glossy and liquid is almost completely absorbed, about 3 minutes.
    4. Remove from heat and stir in grated cheddar cheese. Serve immediately with chopped parsley, if desired.

6 Serving Calories 540; Total Fat 25g (Saturated Fat 9g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 90mg; Sodium 1000mg; Total Carbohydrate 47g (Dietary Fiber 24g, Sugars 4g); Protein 31g

% Daily Value: Vitamin A 15%; Vitamin C 2%; Calcium 30%; Iron 15%;

Net Carbs = 23 grams

Elbow Macaroni Recipes for Everyone

You can use elbow pasta for more than mac and cheese! Try something new with our elbow macaroni pasta recipes.

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Elbow Macaroni Recipes for Everyone