Classic Italian-style bolognese sauce made lighter with ground turkey and zucchini noodles! This one-pan dinner is loaded with an unbelievable amount of flavor.
It’s 30-minute Thursday, guys! And Italian-night Thursday! And yes, I totally made that last one up on the spot because I have Italian nomz to shove in your face today.
So just go with it.
So question, guys: are veggie noodles still super-trendy and hip or has that ship sailed? Please say it hasn’t because I recently got a brand-new spiralizer that I’m sorta obsessed with and I’ve also got like 5 million recently-inspired veggie noodle ideas that I want to scream to the world about, but mostly eat.
And just in case you’re wondering about the months-long veggie noodle-less hiatus, it’s because my previous not one, but TWO spiralizers bit the dust and I never got around to replacing them. Until my mom did it for me because my mom is the best and also because she desperately wanted zoodles. Poor Mom. It’s been too long without veggie noodles.
So I made my mom a panful of this Italian gorgeousness. Classic Italian bolognese sauce gone HEALTHY and green-ish. It’s how we roll around here.
And man, oh, man. You are not even going to miss the regular pasta even a tiny bit, guys. My mom and I swear on all 350 zucchinis we’re currently hoarding for future zoodles.
Okay, guys. Let’s talk dinner. Don’t let the fancy-schmancy Italian gobbledygook name in my title scare you. In addition, you will also find those two golden words called, “30 minute” which is also code for BAM, WIN.
The bolognese sauce (ahh! so fancy and I ♥ it) is seriously the bomb. It tastes like a rich Italian sauce that simmered on the stove all day, but in reality it only took 30 minutes to cook and develop all those glorious flavors. Sneaky sauces are the best kind. 😛
I use all kinds of aromatics in my bolognese to bring out the POW of flavors. Lots of garlic, some diced onion and carrot, a little red wine, and tons of fresh basil just before serving. The great thing about this sauce is that you can let it simmer for however long you wish. It can be ready in under 30 minutes, but you can also hold it on the stove at a low simmer for hours if you desire so.
And just before it’s chow-time…here come the zucchini noodles in all their glory. Nestle ’em right into the sauce like so, cover the pan and let the noodles soak in the sauce no more than 5 minutes, just to get them a little softened. Don’t let them sit any long than 5 minutes otherwise they’ll turn to green mush and that is just no good.
Parm cheese by the truckload on top is also necessary at this point, peeps. Rule number 2 in how to eat fancy-schmancy Italian fare the right way.
Rule number 1, you may ask? Lick the skillet and leave nary a noodle behind.
30-Minute Turkey Bolgonese Zucchini Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 1 medium carrot finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 can 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup half-and-half warmed
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
- 4 medium zucchinis spiralized
- Grated Parmesan cheese for topping optional
Instructions
- In a dutch oven or large skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground turkey, onion, carrot, and garlic until meat is no longer pink and veggies are lightly caramelized, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to medium and slowly add red win to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits with a spoon. Stir in tomato paste until incorporated, then add crushed tomatoes.
- Bring sauce to a simmer over medium heat, then slowly stir in half-and-half. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add basil. Keep sauce warm until ready to serve.
- Just before serving, add zucchini noodles to pot and gently stir to coat noodles. Cover pot and let stand no more than 5 minutes for noodles to soften, then serve noodles immediately with Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Be sure to click around all the other bloggers 30-Minute Thursday recipes!
Mushroom Barley Soup from Pumpkin ‘N Spice
Linguine with Poached Egg and Asparagus from Sweet Peas & Saffron
30-Minute Spicy Orange Shrimp Teriyaki from Flavor the Moments
Browned Butter Shrimp and Rice Bowls with Sautéed Kale and Avocado from Floating Kitchen
Spinach Pesto and Tomato Flatbread Pizzas from Kristine’s Kitchen
Tex-Mex Taco Salad from My Kitchen Craze
Sweet and Sour Meatballs from Bake. Eat. Repeat.
20-Minute Ham and Pineapple Rice from The Recipe Rebel
Seasoned Chickpea Taco Salad with Avocado Ranch Dressing from She Likes Food
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I think this dish is the perfect way to get my husband to try zucchini noodles! He’s weird about that stuff, so I have a feeling the meat, cheese and sauce would make this irresistible. Looks SO good, Sarah!
Sarah says
You should TOTALLY try to trick your hubby into eating zucchini noodles, Gayle! I bet he’ll find that he loves ’em! LOL.
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
Eeeps…I’m the last person in the world without a spiralizer. So I hope that ship hasn’t set sail yet, because I still need to get on board! I want to slurp up all these zoodles and I’m SO licking the skillet clean!
Sarah says
Ohh I really hope veggie noodles are still in style because I’m currently obsessed! Haha!
marcie says
Your mom was so nice to get you another spiralizer…she did have motives, but who can blame her? 🙂 I love zoodles more than regular pasta, and this turkey bolognese is right up my alley! Gorgeous dish, Sarah!
Sarah says
Haha yes! My mom can’t live without her veggie noodles. Works for me! 😀 Thanks Marcie!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says
I still haven’t tried zoodles – I seriously need to get on that. Although I’m pretty sure I’ll get a lot of confused looks from my family the day I set “pretend” noodles in front of them for supper! 🙂 This bolognese sauce looks amazing, I can’t wait to try it!
Sarah says
Zoodles are the BOMB, Stacey! You so need to try ’em! 😉
Ashley says
I really need to just break down and buy a spiralizer! haha I’ve been holding out but with all these delicious looking recipes…
This sauce sounds fantastic! Happy Thursday!!
Sarah says
Yes, you SO need to get a spiralizer, Ashley! It will change your life forever. 😉
Annie says
Wow!! Talk about comfort food! This looks irresistible!
Sarah says
Total comfort food! Thanks Annie. 🙂
Puja Darshan says
I was just wondering, if I can use Tofu rather than Turkey for this recipe?
BTW Beautiful pics. 🙂
Sarah says
I’m unsure of how you would sub the tofu for the turkey, however you can certainly try it, Puja!
Denise @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Oooh which spiralizer did you get? I have the Paderno one, which comes highly recommended, but I’m kind of scared it might break….although it did survive several sweet potatoes. Anyway, this turkey bolognese looks so good, and with the zucchini noodles it’s healthy! Woohoo!
Sarah says
I got the Kitchenaid spiralizer! It hooks up right to my mixer and I LOVE it! So easy to set up!
Kristine | Kristine's Kitchen says
I still don’t have a spiralizer but have been wanting one! I need to just go ahead and buy one so I can make amazing recipes like this! I love this lighter version of bolognese!
Sarah says
Kristine, you SO need to get a spiralizer! You will find yourself using it every single day!
Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says
I need to make these asap! I got a spiralizer a long long time ago, but have only used it maybe once. I just get so nervous with what recipe to make and will it taste good? This recipe looks perfect and now I need to pull that spiralizer out! 😉
Sarah says
You so need to pull out that spiralizer again, Cyndi! Do it. 🙂
Tara says
Have you tried this with almond milk instead of half and half? Wondering if it would work.
Sarah says
Hi Tara! I haven’t tried that however you can certainly try it!
Jessica says
Hi! I love this recipe, may I have permission to feature it and include a photo in a blog post of mine? Thank you!
Sarah says
Hi Jessica! You are welcome to feature my recipe and photo, provided that you give me a direct link back.
Jessica says
Of course! Forgot to mention that 🙂 Thank you!