Sweet & Spicy Turkey Broccoli Pasta (Print Version)

Tender turkey and crisp broccoli in a bold sweet-and-spicy sauce, tossed with penne pasta for a vibrant 30-minute meal.

# 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 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)

# Directions:

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 red bell pepper to the turkey. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
04 - Add broccoli florets 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.
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 - Serve hot, garnished with green onions, sesame seeds, and optional cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's genuinely ready in 30 minutes, which means you can make this on a Tuesday without losing your mind.
  • The sauce hits that perfect balance where spicy doesn't mean painful, and sweet doesn't mean cloying.
  • Broccoli actually tastes good here, crisp and caramelized instead of mushy, which is honestly the whole game.
02 -
  • Don't overcook the broccoli before adding the sauce, because it will keep cooking and turn mushy if you're not careful.
  • The sriracha heat builds, so add it slowly and taste as you go, especially if you're cooking for people who find spicy means sweating.
  • This dish is best eaten right away, not reheated the next day, because the broccoli gets tired and the pasta soaks up too much sauce.
03 -
  • Toasted sesame oil is worth buying if you don't have it, because regular sesame oil tastes flat in comparison and it's not expensive.
  • Cooking the sauce for just those 2 minutes before adding the pasta means the broccoli stays bright and doesn't turn into broccoli mush.
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