Description
A creamy, comforting one-pot pasta packed with seasoned ground turkey, tender macaroni, and melted cheddar cheese. This lighter twist on a classic delivers rich cheeseburger flavor in every bite while keeping things simple and weeknight-friendly.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 2 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add diced onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until fully browned and no longer pink.
- Stir in tomato paste, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, milk, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add uncooked elbow macaroni, stir well, cover, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in shredded cheddar cheese until completely melted and creamy.
- Let the dish rest for 3 minutes to thicken slightly, then serve warm.
Notes
- For extra flavor, season the turkey well while browning.
- Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom.
- Add a splash of milk when reheating to restore creaminess.
- Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly than pre-shredded varieties.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg