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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Easy Turkey Bolognese

    Published: Nov 11, 2020 · Modified: Oct 28, 2021 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 7 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    turkey bolognese in a pan.

    An easy turkey bolognese recipe that can be made with low-fat turkey mince or leftover roast turkey from Christmas.

    Ready in just 45 minutes, it's the perfect dinner for busy weeknights and a recipe the whole family will love.

    A bowl of turkey bolognese served with spaghetti and grated parmesan.

    We all love bolognese around these parts, and this turkey bolognese recipe is not only low in fat and easy to make, but tastes absolutely delicious! The kids always ask for seconds when I serve this up for dinner.

    👩‍🍳 Love bolognese? Try my easy chicken bolognese recipe too!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why should you try it?
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ FAQS
    • 😋Related recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why should you try it?

    • Easy to make
    • Leftovers can be frozen
    • Lower in fat than normal beef bolognese
    • Tasty and delicious

    🥘 Ingredients

    • Olive Oil - a light olive oil is best for this recipe.
    • Onion - 1 white onion finely chopped.
    • Garlic - we like things garlicky so I used 3 garlic cloves.
    • Carrot - 1 large carrot, finely chopped.
    • Celery - 1 stick of celery, finely chopped.
    • Turkey Mince - 500g is needed or alternatively use leftover roast turkey, chopped into small pieces.
    • Streaky Bacon - 3 rashers help give the bolognese a lovely depth of flavour.
    • Tomato Puree - 2 tablespoons.
    • Worcestershire Sauce - 2 teaspoons.
    • Dried Italian Herbs - 3 teaspoons gives the bolognese sauce a herby flavour injection.
    • Passata - 500g is needed for this recipe. Alternatively use chopped tomatoes.
    • Chicken Stock Pot or Cube - 1 stock pot or cube (no need to dilute with water)
    • Milk - helps to tenderise the meat.
    • Sugar - helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
    • Basil - gives the sauce a lovely fresh flavour at the end of cooking.
    • Parmesan - essential for any bolognese!
    • Salt & Pepper - for seasoning purposes.

    🔪 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 and gently fry the onion, garlic, carrot and celery until soft. This should take about 3-4 minutes.

    Two - Turn the heat up and add the chopped bacon and turkey mince (if you are using leftover cooked turkey this needs to be added at the end of cooking) and cook until the mince has changed colour and the bacon is cooked.

    Three - Stir in the tomato puree, Worcestershire sauce, dried Italian herbs, passata and chicken stock pot or cube. Give it a stir then add the milk and sugar.

    Four - Simmer on a low heat for 20 minutes until cooked (if you are using leftover cooked turkey add it for the last 5 minutes of cooking), then season and scatter over the basil and grated Parmesan before serving.

    Step by step photo instructions for making the turkey bolognese recipe.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    I usually serve the turkey bolognese with spaghetti or linguine, with garlic bread and a side salad. Leftovers are delicious as a topping for jacket potatoes or made into a pasta bake.

    📖 Variations

    • Add more vegetables to the bolognese. Chopped mushrooms, courgettes (zucchini) and peppers would all work really well.
    • If you like your food spicy you could add half a teaspoon of dried chilli flakes at the same time as the dried Italian herbs.
    • Make it vegetarian by using Quorn mince instead of turkey.

    🥡 Storage

    The cooked bolognese sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat thoroughly in the microwave before serving. Alternatively the bolognese can be frozen for up to 3 months in a freezer safe container.

    ❓ FAQS

    Why do you add milk to bolognese?

    Milk helps to tenderise the meat and give the bolognese a richer depth of flavour.

    Is bolognese healthy?

    Turkey bolognese is lower in fat than normal beef bolognese. Serve with wholewheat spaghetti for extra health benefits.

    How can I thicken my bolognese?

    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).

    😋Related recipes

    Some more delicious pasta recipes to try!

    • Pork Bolognese - another lighter alternative to traditional beef bolognese.
    • Chorizo Bolognese - smoky and rich, this delicious chorizo bolognese packs a punch in flavour and elevates the humble (but still very tasty) bolognese to the next level.
    • Quorn Bolognese - a tasty vegetarian Quorn Bolognese, perfect for a meat-free weeknight dinner. Easy, quick and oh so tasty!
    • Easy Chorizo and Pepper Pasta - easy, tasty and made in just 30 minutes.
    • One Pan Chicken Penne Arrabbiata - tender cooked chicken, in a garlicky tomato sauce with pasta, spiked with red pepper flakes and chilli.
    • Caramelised Shallot Pasta - sweet caramelised shallots, tangy tomatoes and salty anchovies.
    • Creamy Sausage and Mushroom Pasta - proper winter comfort food!
    • Easy Cheesy Pasta - using a cheat’s crème fraiche cheese sauce pepped up with smoked paprika and Dijon mustard. Best of all it only takes 15 minutes to make and 15 minutes to bake.

    Don't want to miss a thing?

    Grab your free pantry checklist!

    • Easy Leftover Chicken Curry Recipe
    • Easy Spicy Chicken Pizza Recipe
    • Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Beef Recipe
    • Slow Cooker Beef Keema Curry Recipe

    Recipe

    turkey bolognese in a bowl with grated parmesan.
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    5 from 7 votes

    Turkey Bolognese

    An easy turkey bolognese recipe that can be made with low-fat turkey mince or leftover roast turkey from Christmas. Ready in just 45 minutes, it's the perfect dinner for busy weeknights and a recipe the whole family will love.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Keyword turkey bolognese
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes
    Total Time 40 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 391kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Kitchen Scales
    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Shallow Casserole
    • Wooden Spoon

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 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
    • 500 g Passata
    • 100 ml Milk full-fat
    • 1 teaspoon Sugar
    • 2 tablespoon Basil chopped
    • 75 g Parmesan grated
    • Salt and Pepper

    Instructions

    • Heat the oil in a shallow casserole and gently fry the onion, garlic, carrot and celery until soft. This should take about 3-4 minutes.
    • Turn the heat up and add the chopped bacon and turkey mince (if you are using leftover cooked turkey this needs to be added at the end of cooking) and cook until the mince has changed colour and the bacon is cooked.
    • Stir in the tomato puree, Worcestershire sauce, dried Italian herbs, passata and chicken stock pot or cube. Give it a stir then add the milk and sugar.
    • Simmer on a low heat for 20 minutes until cooked (if you are using leftover cooked turkey add it to the sauce for the last 5 minutes of cooking), then season and scatter over the basil and grated Parmesan before serving.

    Notes

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
    Nutrition Facts
    Turkey Bolognese
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    391
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    21
    g
    32
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    7
    g
    44
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    108
    mg
    36
    %
    Sodium
     
    463
    mg
    20
    %
    Potassium
     
    1020
    mg
    29
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    20
    g
    7
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    11
    g
    12
    %
    Protein
     
    34
    g
    68
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    3670
    IU
    73
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    18
    mg
    22
    %
    Calcium
     
    320
    mg
    32
    %
    Iron
     
    4
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    #CookBlogShare

    I'm linking this recipe up to #CookBlogShare which this week is hosted by Lost in Food.

    Cook Blog Share

    More Easy Dinner Recipes

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    • Slow Cooker Pork & Apple Casserole Recipe
    • Cheesy Slow Cooker Tortellini Recipe
    • Easy Leftover Turkey Fricassee Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Katherine

      November 11, 2020 at 1:19 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great seasonal (and healthier!) twist to use turkey!

      Reply
    2. Natalie

      November 11, 2020 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      What a lovely dinner idea. I will definitely give your recipe a try. Bacon makes this dish really interesting. 🙂

      Reply
    3. Traci

      November 11, 2020 at 1:52 pm

      5 stars
      Easy and delicious! I love it that this has turkey instead of beef...it's a lighter flavor...thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Maria

      November 11, 2020 at 2:57 pm

      5 stars
      I am happy that I have just found this! I really love pasta <3 will try this at the weekend

      Reply
    5. Lizet Bowen

      November 11, 2020 at 3:04 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    6. Cat | Curly's Cooking

      November 13, 2020 at 9:07 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    7. Janice

      November 15, 2020 at 9:07 pm

      5 stars
      You've packed so many lovely flavours into this dinner and turkey mince is the ideal vehicle to allow them to shine.

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

    More about me →

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