This easy turkey mince bolognese recipe is a lighter twist on the classic Italian favourite, made with lean turkey mince, streaky bacon, passata, and a splash of milk for a rich, silky sauce.
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A Quick Look At The Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Turkey Mince Bolognese
🕒 Ready In: 45 minutes
👪 Serves: 4
🍽 Calories: 391 per serving (excluding pasta)
🥣 Main Ingredients: Turkey Mince, Bacon, Onion, Garlic, Celery, Carrot, Passata, Milk, Chicken Stock Cube
📖 Dietary Info: High in protein, freezer friendly
👌 Difficulty: Easy
Summarise & Save This Content On
Using simple supermarket ingredients and ready in under an hour, this turkey bolognese is comforting, protein-packed, and incredibly versatile.
Serve it with spaghetti, tagliatelle, or even spooned over jacket potatoes for an easy midweek dinner everyone will love.
If you're looking for a turkey bolognese without red wine, that's kid-friendly and freezer-friendly, this recipe ticks all the boxes.
You might also like my turkey mince chilli and turkey mince curry recipes.
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✔️ Why you'll love this turkey bolognese
- Turkey mince bolognese is a healthier alternative to traditional beef bolognese as turkey mince is lower in fat and calories while still providing plenty of protein and flavour.
- The addition of vegetables is a great way to sneak in some extra nutrition for your little ones.
- The recipe is easy to make, making it a great option for busy weeknights.
🥘 Ingredients
A full ingredients list along with Metric and US Customary measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Olive oil - a light olive oil works best for this recipe; vegetable, sunflower, or rapeseed oil can also be used.
Onion - finely chopped; shallots or leeks make a good substitute.
Garlic - finely chopped cloves; garlic paste or garlic granules can be used if needed.
Carrot - a large carrot, finely chopped, adds natural sweetness.
Celery - finely chopped to add depth of flavour.
Turkey mince - fresh turkey mince or leftover roast turkey chopped into small pieces; chicken mince works well as an alternative.
Streaky bacon - chopped rashers add a rich, savoury flavour; smoked bacon, turkey bacon, or pancetta can also be used.
Tomato purée - adds depth and richness; tomato paste can be used as a direct substitute.
Worcestershire sauce - adds umami and savouriness.
Dried Italian herbs - or use a mix of fresh herbs such as basil, oregano, and thyme.
Passata - forms the base of the sauce; tinned chopped tomatoes can be used instead.
Chicken stock pot or cube - crumbled straight into the sauce; vegetable stock can be used as an alternative.
Milk - helps tenderise the meat and soften the acidity of the tomatoes; full-fat milk works best.
Sugar - balances the acidity of the tomatoes.
Basil - stirred in at the end for a fresh finish; parsley can be used if preferred.
Parmesan - sprinkled on top before serving; Grana Padano, Pecorino, or a vegetarian hard cheese are good alternatives.
Salt and pepper - used to season to taste.
Need to substitute an ingredient?
Have an allergy or dietary preference? Let AI customise the recipe for you.
📖 Variations
- Add extra vegetables by stirring in finely chopped mushrooms, courgettes (zucchini), peppers, or aubergine to boost nutrition and help the sauce go further.
- Make it vegetarian by replacing the turkey mince with Quorn mince or another meat-free alternative, and using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
- Swap the mince by using chicken mince for a lighter version or lamb/pork mince for a richer, more traditional bolognese-style flavour.
- Add a little heat by including chilli flakes, cayenne pepper, or a dash of hot sauce to suit your taste.
🔪 Instructions
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Heat the oil in a shallow casserole dish over a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, and celery and cook gently for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until softened.
Two: Increase the heat and add the chopped bacon and turkey mince. Cook until the mince has changed colour and the bacon is cooked through, breaking up the mince as it cooks. If using leftover cooked turkey, add it later.
Three: Stir in the tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce, dried Italian herbs, passata, and the chicken stock pot or cube. Mix well until everything is evenly combined, then pour in the milk and add the sugar.
Four: Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is rich and cooked through. If using leftover cooked turkey, add it for the final 5 minutes. Season to taste, then sprinkle with fresh basil and grated Parmesan before serving.
Top Tips
- Finely chop the onion, carrot, and celery so they soften quickly and blend smoothly into the sauce.
- Brown the turkey mince properly before adding the sauce ingredients to avoid a pale or bland bolognese.
- Use leftover roast turkey instead of turkey mince. Add it into the sauce for the last 5 minutes of cooking.
- Add a splash of red wine when cooking the bacon and mince for a deeper, richer flavour, if you like. Allow it to bubble for a minute before adding the tomatoes.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Serve the bolognese with spaghetti (or any pasta shape) as well as garlic bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Leftovers can be used as a topping for jacket potatoes or made into a pasta bake.
Storage
Store - place leftover turkey mince spag bol in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat - heat up in a saucepan over low heat until it's heated through. You can also reheat it in the microwave or oven.
Freeze - for up to 3 months. Allow it to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Milk helps to tenderise the meat and give the bolognese a richer depth of flavour.
If your sauce requires a bit of thickening, you can simply simmer (without a lid) on a low heat for 10 more minutes. You could also add a tablespoon of thickening granules (which can usually be found in the baking aisle at the supermarket).
Yes, you can use leftover roast turkey in this recipe. Simply add it towards the end of cooking to avoid overcooking it.
Troubleshooting Guide
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| The bolognese sauce is too watery | Simmer uncovered for a little longer to allow excess liquid to evaporate, or stir in thickening granules or a cornflour slurry to thicken the sauce. |
| The turkey mince is dry | Make sure the sauce includes the milk and avoid overcooking; leftover cooked turkey should only be added for the final few minutes. |
| The sauce tastes too acidic | Stir in a little extra milk or extra pinch of sugar to balance the tomatoes. |
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Recipe
Easy Turkey Mince Bolognese Recipe
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Equipment
- Chopping Board
- Knife
- Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Onion finely chopped
- 3 Garlic Cloves finely chopped
- 1 Carrot finely chopped
- 1 Celery Stick finely chopped
- 3 Streaky Bacon rashers chopped
- 500 g Turkey Mince or use leftover roast turkey
- 2 tablespoon Tomato Puree
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 3 teaspoon Dried Italian Herbs
- 1 Chicken Stock Pot or cube (no need to mix with water)
- 500 g Passata
- 100 ml Milk full-fat
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- 2 tablespoon Basil chopped
- 75 g Parmesan grated
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- In a shallow casserole, heat the oil and gently fry the onion, garlic, carrot, and celery until they become soft. This should take around 3-4 minutes.1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 Onion, 3 Garlic Cloves, 1 Carrot, 1 Celery Stick
- Increase the heat and add the chopped bacon and turkey mince. If you're using leftover cooked turkey, add it towards the end of cooking. Cook until the mince changes colour and the bacon is cooked.3 Streaky Bacon rashers, 500 g Turkey Mince
- Stir in the tomato puree, Worcestershire sauce, dried Italian herbs, passata, and chicken stock pot or cube. Mix well, then add the milk and sugar.2 tablespoon Tomato Puree, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce, 3 teaspoon Dried Italian Herbs, 1 Chicken Stock Pot, 500 g Passata, 100 ml Milk, 1 teaspoon Sugar
- Simmer on a low heat for 20 minutes until it's cooked. If you're using leftover cooked turkey, add it for the final 5 minutes of cooking. Season and serve with basil and grated Parmesan.2 tablespoon Basil, 75 g Parmesan, Salt and Pepper
Katherine says
Such a great seasonal (and healthier!) twist to use turkey!
Natalie says
What a lovely dinner idea. I will definitely give your recipe a try. Bacon makes this dish really interesting. 🙂
Traci says
Easy and delicious! I love it that this has turkey instead of beef...it's a lighter flavor...thanks for sharing!
Maria says
I am happy that I have just found this! I really love pasta <3 will try this at the weekend
Lizet Bowen says
I bought ground turkey last week, I haven't cooked much with it before. We'll give your recipe a try this week. It looks easy and it sounds delicious!
Cat | Curly's Cooking says
I like using turkey mince in place of beef to lighten up meals. I love the idea of using leftover Christmas turkey; what a great and tasty idea!
Janice says
You've packed so many lovely flavours into this dinner and turkey mince is the ideal vehicle to allow them to shine.
Debbie says
I made this in the slow cooker tonight using minced chicken and it was absolutely lovely. Full flavoured and perfect with the macaroni we put with it. I am now thinking of batch cooking some more and using some of this in a lasagne too. A welcome change from the beef mince recipes, so thank you!