One Pot Healthy Turkey Bolognese
This healthy turkey bolognese is a cozy one-pot dinner inspired by my Nonna’s homemade sauce. It’s lightened up with ground turkey and packed with flavor.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground turkey or ground turkey breast
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 4-5 garlic cloves crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1, 28-ounce can of peeled San Marzano tomatoes crushed by hand
- 1, 15-ounce can of tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste optional for more richness
- 1 tablespoon aged balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf optional
Instructions
- Pour the peeled San Marzano tomatoes into a large bowl and thoroughly crush them by hand. Set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and garlic and sauté until soft and fragrant.
- Push the onion and garlic to the side of the pot. Add the ground turkey, season with salt and pepper, and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until fully cooked.
- Stir in the crushed San Marzano tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, basil, oregano, and thyme. Mix well, then add the bay leaf.
- Simmer uncovered for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the bay leaf, taste, and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Video
Notes
- Let it Simmer: Simmering the bolognese for at least 25–30 minutes gives the flavors time to deepen, blend together, and allows the sauce to naturally thicken. If you plan to let it simmer longer, place the lid on the pot to prevent too much liquid from evaporating while still letting the sauce slowly develop that rich, comforting flavor.
- Ground Turkey Swap: You can swap the ground turkey with lean ground chicken, ground chicken breast, or lean ground beef.
Nutrition
Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 9.8g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 3.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.8g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 145mg | Fiber: 2.9g | Sugar: 4.4g