This one pot Creamy Ground Turkey Tortellini Skillet is one of those recipes I make often because it’s easy, the whole family likes it, and it comes together super quick. It’s a creamy, cheesy dish packed with protein and flavor.
If you love easy one-pot pasta dinners like this, you might also enjoy my Creamy Ground Turkey Pasta, a simple and comforting weeknight dinner made with lean turkey, spinach, and a rich, creamy sauce.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS GROUND TURKEY TORTELLINI SKILLET
Quick & Easy – Ready in about 20 minutes with simple steps anyone can follow. This is one of my quickest recipes. Save even more time by chopping your spinach while the tortellini is cooking. That keeps the prep work to zero.
One Pan = Less Mess – Everything cooks in a single skillet for less cleanup. For another delicious one-pot pasta dinner, try my One Pot Tuscan Ground Turkey Pasta. It’s another great option packed with flavor, fiber and protein!
Big Flavor – Creamy, cheesy, and full of Italian flavor. Simple, fresh ingredients come together to make a rich, flavorful dish that tastes like it came from a restaurant.
Family-Friendly – A hearty meal that kids and adults both love. Tortellini is always a hit with my kids.
INGREDIENTS
- Ground turkey – Use lean ground turkey for a lighter skillet (93% or higher). Ground chicken or sausage can also be swapped in.
- Garlic – Adds to the flavor of the sauce. Pre-chopped or jarred garlic is a handy shortcut if you’re in a rush. I always keep a big jar of minced garlic from Costco in the fridge.
- Italian seasoning – A simple way to pack in flavor without measuring lots of spices. If you don’t have it on hand, mix your own with dried basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary.
- Tomato paste – Adds richness and depth to the sauce with just a couple spoonfuls. For best flavor, let it cook for a minute with the turkey and garlic before adding liquids.
- Tomato sauce – I prefer to use plain tomato sauce, but you can use marinara or your favorite pasta sauce as well.
- Chicken broth – Thins out the sauce a bit and helps cook the tortellini.
- Cheese tortellini – Fresh or refrigerated tortellini works best here. If using frozen, no need to thaw—just add a couple of extra minutes to the cook time.
- Cream – Adds a slight richness to the sauce.
- Spinach – Fresh spinach wilts really well in the skillet and it’s easy to work with.
- Mozzarella cheese – I love to top off my skillet with a bunch of mozzarella for extra cheesiness, but you could skip the cheese altogether to make it lighter.
HOW TO MAKE ONE POT TORTELLINI SKILLET
In a large skillet, add oil and heat over medium. Add the ground turkey and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up along the way.
Once turkey is cooked, add the garlic, Italian seasoning, tomato paste and salt. Stir for just a minute or so, until the tomato paste coats most of the turkey.
Add the tomato sauce and broth. Stir well and turn heat up just a bit. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil.
Add the tortellini and stir until mixed well. Cover and cook for 5-6 minutes. Remove cover and stir. Check pasta for doneness. (Tortellini should be tender.)
Once tortellini is cooked, add the cream and stir until it’s mixed well into the rest of the sauce. Then, add the spinach and gently stir one more time. Turn off the heat, sprinkle the cheese on top of the pasta and cover for 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Enjoy!
TIPS & NOTES FOR THE BEST CREAMY GROUND TURKEY TORTELLINI SKILLET
Cook the tomato paste first – Let it simmer for a minute with the onion and garlic to bring out its rich, deep flavor.
Don’t overcook the tortellini – Since it cooks right in the sauce, keep an eye on it and pull the pan off the heat as soon as the pasta is tender.
Customize the veggies – Swap spinach for kale, zucchini, or mushrooms, or mix in extra veggies your family loves.
Storage – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
One Pot Creamy Ground Turkey Tortellini Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb extra lean ground turkey
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1½ tbsp minced garlic (or about 7-8 cloves, finely chopped)
- 2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp salt
- 24 oz tomato sauce
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- 24 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1-2 cups fresh spinach roughly chopped
- 1 cup mozzarella or Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, add oil and heat over medium. Add the ground turkey and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up along the way.
- Once turkey is cooked, add the garlic, Italian seasoning, tomato paste and salt. Stir for just a minute or so, until the tomato paste coats most of the turkey.
- Add the tomato sauce and broth. Stir well and turn heat up just a bit. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil.
- Add the tortellini and stir until mixed well. Cover and cook for 5-6 minutes. Remove cover and stir. Check pasta for doneness. (Tortellini should be tender.)
- Once tortellini is cooked, add the cream and stir until it's mixed well into the rest of the sauce. Then, add the spinach and gently stir one more time. Turn off the heat, sprinkle the cheese on top of the pasta and cover for 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Enjoy!
- If you have a quick second to scroll to the very bottom of this page and rate this recipe, I would greatly appreciate it! It really helps this recipe reach more people, so thank you!
Nutrition
More One-Pot Ground Turkey Pasta Recipes
If you enjoy easy one-pot ground turkey pasta dinners, here are a few more recipes to try:
- Creamy Ground Turkey Pasta – a simple and comforting pasta with spinach and a homemade, creamy-citrus sauce.
- One Pot Tuscan Ground Turkey Pasta – creamy pasta with garlic, spinach, white beans and Italian flavors.
- One Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta with Ground Turkey – a bold pasta dinner with Cajun spices and a creamy sauce.
- One Pot Creamy Corn and Turkey Pasta – creamy pasta with sweet corn and ground turkey.
- One Pot Cheesy Taco Orzo Skillet – a taco-inspired pasta made with ground turkey and cheesy orzo.
Looking for even more easy meals like these? Here’s a list of some of our favorites for busy weeknights. → Ground Turkey Pasta Recipes
Love this Recipe!! Thank you for creating such an amazing and simple dish for a not so talented cook!!
That makes me so happy to hear! I’m so glad you found the recipe easy! That’s what I always hope to accomplish lol. Thank you so much for taking the time to share that and rate the recipe. I appreciate it SO much!
so yummy and easy!!!
Thank you Clarissa! I’m so glad you like it! I really appreciate you taking the time to share that and rate the recipe. :)
Love!
Yay! So glad you like it! I appreciate the rating. :)