Sweet & Spicy Turkey Broccoli Pasta (Printable version)

Tender ground turkey and crisp broccoli tossed with penne in a bold sweet-and-spicy sauce. Ready in 30 minutes for a satisfying weeknight dinner.

# What you need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne pasta

→ Turkey & Vegetables

02 - 1 lb ground turkey
03 - 2 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
04 - 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Sweet & Spicy Sauce

08 - 1/4 cup soy sauce, low-sodium preferred
09 - 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar
10 - 1 1/2 tbsp sriracha or chili garlic sauce
11 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
12 - 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
13 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

→ Garnish

14 - 2 green onions, sliced
15 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
16 - Shredded parmesan or feta cheese, optional

# Steps to follow:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it apart, until no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Add chopped onion, garlic, and diced red bell pepper to the turkey. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
04 - Add broccoli florets and cook for another 3-4 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sriracha, vinegar, sesame oil, and black pepper until fully combined.
06 - Pour sauce over turkey and vegetables. Stir to coat evenly and simmer for 2 minutes.
07 - Add drained penne to the skillet. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through, approximately 1-2 minutes.
08 - Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and optional cheese.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • Ready in 30 minutes flat, which means dinner lands on the table before anyone gets hangry.
  • The sweet and spicy sauce is genuinely addictive—you'll find yourself scraping the bottom of the skillet.
  • Ground turkey keeps it lighter than heavier pastas, but the richness of the sauce makes it feel completely satisfying.
  • Easily customizable with whatever vegetables are lurking in your crisper drawer.
02 -
  • Don't let the broccoli cook longer than 4 minutes or it turns mushy and sad—bright green means you've timed it right.
  • Taste the sauce before it hits the pan because adjusting sriracha once it's mixed in is harder than catching it beforehand.
  • The starch from the pasta water is your secret weapon for making sauce cling; never rinse your drained pasta if you want restaurant results.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before garnishing—it wakes up their flavor and transforms the dish from good to unforgettable.
  • If you're cooking for someone heat-sensitive, serve the sriracha on the side and let them control their spice level rather than building it into the sauce itself.
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