This recipe for Pesto Spaghetti is reminiscent of something my mom used to make when I was a kid. It's great because it brings back a lot of flavor memories. But it still holds up and is super tasty, even today!
Of course, I have given it a little bit of a modern update, but this recipe turned out exactly as I wanted it to. Tons of flavor and something I'd still happily eat for dinner any night of the week.
Ingredients
This is a super budget-friendly meal that only requires a handful of ingredients. And it's a great way to use up some of my Basil Pesto that I usually have in the freezer.
I added the veggies for a little brightness, but if you have family or kids that don't love them, you could keep it basic with just the meat, pasta, pesto, and seasonings.
Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of the post, or scroll to the bottom of the post to see the full recipe card with ingredient measurements and instructions.
Method
In a large pot, brown the ground meat, and then drain off any liquid that accumulates and add in the veggies and cook them into the meat.
Once those are in, season everything and add in the pesto. Stir it all together and toss in the cooked pasta and a little bit of the pasta water. The greatness of this recipe is it all comes together in a matter of minutes in one pot.
Serve in large pasta bowls, topped with some shaved parmesan, a little more pesto if you like, and some crushed pepper flakes.
Notes & Tips
The key to making this recipe in minutes is starting with two pots on the stove. Begin there with a pot of water and bring it to a boil for the pasta.
Then just as the water begins to boil, start browning the meat. Then after the meat is brown, add the pasta to the water and it will be done just as everything is cooked, then just toss the pasta into the meat pot. And dinner is ready to eat!
To make quick, easy work of halving grape tomatoes, put them between two storage container tops and with a serrated knife cut many in half at once. Done in seconds.
Substitutions
In place of the ground turkey, you could also use chicken, or even Italian sausage if you'd like.
I LOVE fine angel hair pasta, but you could really use any kind of pasta you like. Or even just straight-up spaghetti.
Of course, if you have fresh herbs available, use them. I add some dry basil in the recipe for an extra punch of flavor, but you could always use fresh!
I like to use contrasting colored bell peppers, but really any color will work here. They just bring a nice fresh crunch to the soft pasta, so I suggest using them no matter what.
And as far as the shaved parmesan goes, I just like it for looks, but you could swap it for grated or shredded. Just add some to the top for extra flavor, you'll love it.
More Tasty Pasta Recipes
Lemon Orzo with Chicken, Feta, and Tomatoes
Giant Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
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📖 Recipe
Pesto Spaghetti
This recipe for Pesto Spaghetti is reminiscent of something my mom used to make when I was a kid and floods back some great flavor memories.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Ground Turkey
- 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher Salt
- ¾ teaspoon Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
- 1 pound Angel Hair Pasta
- 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- ½ teaspoon dried Basil
- 1 cup Grape Tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup Bell Peppers, chopped - any color
- ½ cup Basil Pesto
- Shaved Parmesan, for serving
Instructions
- Set a large pot of water over high heat and bring it to a boil for the pasta. Salt the water when it boils.
- In a large pot or skillet, brown the ground turkey and season with salt and pepper.
- When the meat is almost done browning, drop the pasta in boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Reserve some of the pasta water after cooking.
- After the turkey is fully cooked and browned, tip any liquid left in the bottom of the pot out into the sink.
- Add the olive oil to the pan, along with the red pepper flakes, basil, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Cook 3-4 minutes to incorporate the tomatoes and bell peppers. Stir in the pesto and add the cooked pasta and ½ cup of the pasta water. Stir to combine everything and serve topped with shaved parmesan.
Notes
Notes & Tips
The key to making this recipe in minutes is starting with two pots on the stove. Begin there with a pot of water and bring it to a boil for the pasta.
Then just as the water begins to boil, start browning the meat. Then after the meat is brown, add the pasta to the water and it will be done just as everything is cooked, then just toss the pasta into the meat pot. And dinner is ready to eat!
To make quick, easy work of halving grape tomatoes, put them between two storage container tops and with a serrated knife cut many in half at once. Done in seconds.
Substitutions
In place of the ground turkey, you could also use chicken, or even Italian sausage if you'd like.
I LOVE fine angel hair pasta, but you could really use any kind of pasta you like. Or even just straight-up spaghetti.
Of course, if you have fresh herbs available, use them. I add some dry basil in the recipe for an extra punch of flavor, but you could always use fresh!
I like to use contrasting colored bell peppers, but really any color will work here. They just bring a nice fresh crunch to the soft pasta, so I suggest using them no matter what.
And as far as the shaved parmesan goes, I just like it for looks, but you could swap it for grated or shredded. Just add some to the top for extra flavor, you'll love it.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 535Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 641mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 37g
This is an estimated caloric value, actual numbers may differ based on the ingredients used.
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