Sweet & Spicy Turkey Broccoli Pasta (Printable)

Tender turkey and crisp broccoli tossed with penne in a bold sweet-and-spicy sauce, ready in 30 minutes.

# Components:

→ 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 tablespoons olive oil

→ Sweet & Spicy Sauce

08 - 1/4 cup soy sauce
09 - 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
10 - 1 1/2 tablespoons sriracha or chili garlic sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Garnish

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

# Method:

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 with a spoon, until no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Add chopped onion, garlic, and diced red bell pepper to the cooked turkey. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
04 - Add broccoli florets to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until bright green and just tender.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sriracha, vinegar, sesame oil, and black pepper until well combined.
06 - Pour the prepared sauce over the turkey and vegetables. Stir to coat evenly and simmer for 2 minutes.
07 - Add the drained penne to the skillet and toss everything together until well combined and heated through, approximately 1-2 minutes.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and optional cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes, which means actual time to breathe on a busy weeknight instead of staring at the clock.
  • The sauce has this addictive balance of sweet and spicy that makes you reach for another bite without thinking about it.
  • Ground turkey keeps it lighter than beef while still feeling genuinely satisfying and nourishing.
02 -
  • Don't overcrowd your skillet when browning the turkey or it'll steam instead of brown, and you'll lose that golden flavor foundation everything else builds on.
  • The sesame oil is not optional and cannot be replaced with regular sesame oil, which tastes completely different and flat by comparison.
03 -
  • Keep your ingredients prepped and within arm's reach before you start cooking because this whole dish moves fast and you don't want to scramble halfway through.
  • The real secret is tasting as you go and adjusting the balance of sweet, spicy, and savory to match your own palate instead of blindly following measurements.
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