Sweet Spicy Turkey Broccoli (Print Version)

Tender turkey and crisp broccoli mingle with a bold sweet-spicy sauce and penne pasta in this quick, satisfying dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne 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, minced garlic, and diced 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 until well combined.
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 - Transfer to serving plates and garnish with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and optional cheese. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes, which means you can eat without ordering takeout.
  • The sweet-and-spicy sauce is bold enough to feel exciting but balanced enough that it won't dominate your whole week of leftovers.
  • Ground turkey keeps things light, but the broccoli and pasta make it genuinely filling.
02 -
  • If you cook the broccoli too long it loses its bright color and snappy texture, so add it after the onions and peppers have softened, not before.
  • The sauce will taste salty and too intense when you taste it alone, but once it coats all that pasta and protein, it balances out perfectly—trust the process here.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for two minutes before garnishing—the extra step transforms them from bland to nutty and makes people notice them.
  • Make the sauce ahead and store it in a jar, then you can throw this whole dish together on a night when you're completely exhausted and still have something that tastes impressive.
Go Back