One-Skillet Pasta

This recipe was given to me 25 years ago and remains a family favorite. It's a tasty twist on traditional spaghetti, and making a one-skillet pasta saves time on prep and cleanup, too. —Susan Spence, Lawrenceville, Virginia

Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds ground turkey
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium sweet red pepper, finely chopped
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium beef broth
1 can (4 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder
8 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, cook the turkey, onion and pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.
Add the tomatoes, broth, mushrooms, brown sugar and chili powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Add pasta; return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until pasta is tender, 30-35 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook until cheese is melted, 2-3 minutes longer.

One-Skillet Pasta Tips

What can I use instead of ground turkey?

Ground chicken would be a great substitute in this recipe and turn out nearly the same. You can also use ground beef, but make sure you drain the excess fat after browning.

Can I freeze this dish?

You can! Transfer individual portions of cooled pasta to freezer containers and freeze for up to three months. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little broth if necessary.

What can I serve this with?

A simple side salad.
A loaf of this Chive Garlic Bread.
An easy vegetable side dish.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts: 1-2/3 cups equals 621 calories, 28 g fat (11 g saturated fat), 118 mg cholesterol, 967 mg sodium, 58 g carbohydrate, 7 g fiber, 36 g protein.

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Reviews

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Average Rating:

Tomcatlover
Dec 13, 2018
Very tasty. Used mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar.
s_pants
Feb 22, 2015
My husband loved it, but I thought it was missing something. I added some crushed red pepper and Parmesan cheese to mine. Next time I think I will had some garlic and a bit more brown sugar. My pasta stuck together and had to pull it apart after about 15 minutes. I would probably check it sooner than that to try to separate it before it gets gummy.
debruble
Oct 20, 2011
My kids loved this recipe!!! They took seconds. I have tried homemade pasta sauces for 30 years and this was the first that my kids loved.
ajenkins1970
Mar 1, 2011
absolutely one of the best spaghetti recipes i have ever tasted. Gives spaghetti a new meaning!!!
scrambledwithcheese
Dec 2, 2010
I thought this was pretty good even though I didn't follow the recipe exactly. I used 1 lb ground beef because that's what I had on hand- and it was plenty enough meat. I left out the sweet red pepper because I didn't have one. I left out the cheese due to preference and I added some garlic. The concept of this was really good. Next time I would like to try making this with 1 lb italian sausage. I would use the red bell pepper, and I would also add more garlic next time. This might also be good with a splash of wine. I also would like to try fresh mushrooms instead of canned. I would use more brown sugar than called for. This is really a great one-pot recipe and is very easy to personalize to your own tastes. Just wanted to know after adding the angel hair pasta it was cooked through in about 15 mins, not 30-35 as called for in the recipe.
amandakaye747
Nov 30, 2010
Easy and delicious. I subbed diced carrots for the mushrooms and added a clove of garlic. Delicious!
Kathie 43
Aug 10, 2010
I used ground beef and left out the mushrooms...my husband loved it. This recipe is a keeper.