Turkey and Sausage Tomato Sauce

Overhead of three bowls of Turkey Pasta Sauce, topped with cheese

Spicy Sausage Ground Turkey Pasta Sauce is a fast, easy family meal! Simply toss this meaty tomato sauce with your favorite noodles for a filling, comforting dinner.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Servings servings

Calories 513kcal

Ingredients

Pasta Sauce

1 lb. ground turkey
½ lb. sweet Italian sausage removed from casing
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
1 onion medium, finely diced
4 garlic cloves minced (about 2 teaspoons)
¾ cup red wine
29 oz. tomato puree
¾ cup water
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, sear the ground turkey and Italian sausage. Season with salt and pepper immediately.
Once the meats are cooked through and browned, remove from the pan.
Add the onion and garlic to the pan with the remaining juices, and cook until soft and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
Pour in wine, and scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze it. Cook until the wine is almost completely cooked down.
Add the meats back to the pan, then add the tomato puree and water. Season with the salt, pepper, basil, oregano and red pepper flakes.
Let the sauce simmer for at least 30 minutes, then serve over the noodles of your choosing.

Notes

Substitution alert: Use turkey or chicken sausage instead of the sweet Italian sausage. You might have to add a tablespoon of oil to the pan while you cook it since it's a lot leaner than pork sausage.

If you want to use fresh herbs, you should! Double the amount of herbs in the recipe, as dried herbs are more potent than fresh.

Store in the fridge in a food-safe storage container for up to a week. Be sure to store the pasta and the sauce separately. Reheat individually, then mix together and add cheese.

Can I leave out the wine? Yes. If you don't drink, you can leave out the wine. Use the same amount of chicken stock or water to deglaze the pan in its place.

When will I know the sauce is done? An old fashioned taste test will tell you if the sauce is done. Honestly, it'll taste delicious right after everything is added, but the longer you let this cook, the more time the ingredients will have to marry their flavors.

Can I make this in advance? Yes! Make this the morning of or the night before you plan to serve it. It stores very easily and reheats like a dream.

Nutrition