Easy Turkey Bolognese
Subtly smoky tomatoes, tender vegetables and perfectly juicy ground turkey all sit atop a bed of pasta. Are you drooling yet, or is that just me? In this Instant Pot Turkey Bolognese, all the flavors meld quickly together in the Instant Pot – giving you a deliciously quick dinner!
Here in Minnesota, we are a little over a week into school. My oldest, Jack, started kindergarten this year. I’ll be honest, I was apprehensive – Will he be able to adjust to all day school? Will he make friends? Will he be able to make it through the day awake? – the questions were literally endless in my head.
And you know what? He crushed it; he loves kindergarten and has been adjusting incredibly well. Every day he wakes up excited to go and every afternoon, when Will and I walk to pick him up, he has a gigantic smile on his face (and looks absolutely exhausted)!
Dinnertime, however, can be a little chaotic. After a long day at school without a nap (he literally still took a nap up until the day before kindergarten), he is beat and a bit crabby. So, making a gourmet meal is just not in the cards.
This Turkey Bolognese is perfect to just throw into a pan and let it simmer. When you let it slowly simmer, the flavors develop and the meat and vegetables become really tender. I absolutely love using Dei Fratelli Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes as the bolognese base – the tomatoes have a subtle smoky flavor that really helps to enhance the flavor of the sauce.
Easy Turkey Bolognese Ingredients:
- ground turkey
- olive oil
- garlic
- white onion
- carrots
- tomato paste
- fire roasted crushed tomatoes
- oregano
- bay leaf
- salt & pepper
- pasta
Instead of the traditional beef bologense, I like to substitute ground turkey. You can’t taste the difference (you may be shaking your head right now, but I honestly can’t; especially when it is with a sauce). In addition, ground turkey is a lot healthier for you than ground beef so, why not substitute it?!
What Type of Pasta Should I Use?
I love using pappardelle pasta in this recipe. The large noodles really hold up well to the chunky sauce. If you can’t find pappardelle pasta, you can easily substitute any other pasta.
If you have trouble getting your kids to eat vegetables, this is a great recipe to sneak some in. You can chop the carrots up super small to hide them from those prying eyes! My boys don’t even notice the carrots – they just scarf it up. My oldest, Jack, doesn’t like sauce on his noodles but likes to eat the sauce on the side with plain noodles. Hey, however you want to eat it!
Easy Meal Prep
Whenever I make this recipe, I always double it and freeze half. The bolognese freezes really well, so if it’s a busy night and I don’t have the time to make or dinner (or, let’s be honest, just don’t want to), I heat up the bolognese and make some fresh noodles for a quick and easy dinner!
Healthy, Quick & Easy Recipes
Whenever I ask my readers what types of recipes they would like to see more of, the resounding answer is always “quick and easy dinners”. I always like hearing that answer because those are the kind of recipes that I want to make! So, whenever you come to Land of 10,000 Recipes, you will always be able to find recipes that are healthy, quick and easy!
Tips for Involving Kids
- Have your kids help you cut up the garlic, onion and carrots with these knives.
- When measuring out the spices, let your kids give it a try (maybe not over the Instant Pot in case they spill). Help them build up their confidence in the kitchen!
- Let your kids be in charge of pushing the buttons on the Instant Pot – this is a VERY coveted position in our house!
Easy Turkey Bolognese
Ingredients
Instructions
Instant Pot
- Select “Sauté” on the Instant Pot and set the timer for 10 minutes. Sauté the garlic, onion and carrots in olive oil until tender, 3 to 4 minutes.½ Tbsp olive oil, 4 cloves garlic, ½ white onion, 1 cup carrots
- Add the turkey to the Instant Pot and cook for an additional 5 minutes.1 lb ground turkey
- Once the turkey is cooked, add the tomato paste and brown it for a minute. Stir to combine all ingredients.¼ cup tomato paste
- Add the crushed tomatoes, oregano, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.28 oz can fire roasted crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp oregano, 1 bay leaf, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper
- Put the lid on and turn the valve to the “sealing” position. Select “High Pressure” and set the timer for 10 minutes.
- While the bolognese is cooking, cook the noodles according to the package directions.12 oz pappardelle or bucatini
- Serve the turkey bolognese over the noodles and enjoy!
Crockpot
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté the garlic, onion and carrots in olive oil until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the turkey and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Once the turkey is cooked, add the tomato paste and brown it for a minute. Stir to combine all ingredients.
- Transfer the turkey and vegetable mixture to the crockpot and add the crushed tomatoes, oregano, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
- When ready to serve, cook the noodles according to the package directions.
- Serve the turkey bolognese over the noodles and enjoy!
