Best 8 Turkey Ragu Recipes

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There's nothing quite like a warm and comforting bowl of ragu on a chilly evening. This classic Italian dish is typically made with beef or pork, but turkey can be a great substitute for a healthier and leaner version. Turkey ragu is packed with flavor and can be served over pasta, rice, or even polenta. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can create a delicious and hearty meal that the whole family will love.

Let's cook with our recipes!

PENNE WITH TURKEY RAGU



Penne With Turkey Ragu image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Kosher salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 leeks (white and light green parts only), finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 ounces ground turkey
1 28-ounce can San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand
Freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for topping
3 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus the rind (optional)
12 ounces penne
2 tablespoons half-and-half

Steps:

  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks, garlic and turkey and cook, stirring, until the turkey browns slightly, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, 2 cups water and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Increase the heat to high, bring the sauce to a boil and cook 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, add half of the basil and the parmesan rind and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta. Stir the half-and-half, the remaining basil and 2 tablespoons cheese into the sauce. Add the pasta and toss to coat, adding some of the reserved pasta water to loosen, if needed. Remove the parmesan rind and season with salt and pepper.
  • Divide the pasta among bowls. Top with the remaining 1 tablespoon cheese and more basil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 493, Fat 8 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Cholesterol 27 milligrams, Sodium 392 milligrams, Carbohydrate 79 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 26 grams

TURKEY RAGU WITH FONTINA AND PARMESAN



Turkey Ragu with Fontina and Parmesan image

I love hearty, cheesy pasta dishes like meat sauce and lasagna, but it's impossible to keep to a diet when eating such meals! I put this together one night to attempt a healthy version of a traditional ragu. It is surprisingly tasty and lends itself to modifications for personalization of taste.

Provided by Jessica

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Turkey     Ground Turkey Recipes

Time 1h

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion (such as Vidalia®), diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 (14.5 ounce) can canned diced tomatoes with their juice
1 (14.5 ounce) can canned crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 cup grated fontina cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onions until translucent and slightly brown, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low and stir in garlic. Cook for 1 minute, then add the ground turkey. Cook and stir until the turkey is no longer pink. Mix in the diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, parsley, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Combine pasta with the tomato sauce in the skillet. Toss pasta with the fontina cheese and 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese until the cheese is melted. Serve pasta in a large bowl with 3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 420.7 calories, Carbohydrate 49.8 g, Cholesterol 63.5 mg, Fat 13.2 g, Fiber 3.6 g, Protein 26 g, SaturatedFat 5.3 g, Sodium 687.4 mg, Sugar 5.4 g

TURKEY RAGù



Turkey Ragù image

Here, ground turkey is simmered with chopped tomatoes, red wine and pancetta into a rich and hearty meat sauce. Use dark meat if you can find it. It's more flavorful and richer than ground breast.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     dinner, easy, weekday, pastas, main course

Time 45m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 ounces pancetta, diced
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 carrot, chopped small
1 small celery stalk, chopped
1/2 onion, peeled and chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
1 pound ground dark-meat turkey
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup red wine
1-14 1/2-ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 pound pasta, cooked
Fresh ricotta

Steps:

  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring, until golden and most of the fat has rendered, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Add the oil to the skillet. Stir in the carrot, celery, onion, garlic and bay leaf. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft and a little golden in spots, about 7 minutes. Scrape the mixture onto a plate.
  • Add the turkey to skillet and cook, breaking up meat with a fork, until golden and cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes. Return pancetta and vegetables to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in the wine; cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet, until it is mostly evaporated. Add the crushed tomatoes. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the butter until melted. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Serve over pasta, topped with a dollop of ricotta.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 554, UnsaturatedFat 12 grams, Carbohydrate 62 grams, Fat 20 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 28 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 543 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams

TURKEY RAGù WITH PASTA



Turkey Ragù with Pasta image

Categories     Pasta     Tomato     turkey     Low Fat     Kid-Friendly     Back to School     Gourmet     Small Plates

Yield Serves 6 as a main course

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 medium onion
2 carrots
1 celery rib
1 red bell pepper
3 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
1/2 cup dry red wine
two 14-ounce cans crushed tomatoes in thick purée
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 3/4 cups beef broth (14 fluid ounces)
2 pinches cinnamon, or to taste
1 pound dried spiral-shaped pasta such as fusilli (long spiral spaghetti)

Steps:

  • Finely chop onion, carrots, celery, and bell pepper. Mince garlic.
  • In a large heavy non-stick skillet melt butter with oil over moderate heat until foam subsides and cook turkey, stirring and breaking up lumps, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. With a slotted spoon transfer turkey to a bowl and in fat remaining in skillet cook chopped vegetables, garlic, rosemary, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are just softened, about 4 minutes. Add wine and cook until most of liquid is evaporated. Stir in 1 can tomatoes with purée, tomato paste, broth, and cinnamon and simmer 15 minutes. Add turkey with any juices in bowl and remaining can tomatoes with purée and simmer, stirring, 15 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pepper and keep warm, covered. Sauce may be made 1 day ahead and cooled, uncovered, before being chilled, covered. Reheat sauce over low heat.
  • Fill a 6-quart kettle three fourths full with salted water and bring to a boil for pasta. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente. Drain pasta in a colander and in a serving bowl toss pasta with sauce.

QUICK LINGUINE WITH TURKEY RAGU FOR TWO



Quick Linguine with Turkey Ragu for Two image

This lovely meal for two is done in about 30 minutes. It tastes decadent but is pretty healthy! While you may certainly combine the cooked linguine with the sauce, I prefer to serve the sauce on top of the linguine.

Provided by thedailygourmet

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta

Time 30m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 ½ ounces linguine pasta
1 ½ teaspoons olive oil
½ pound Italian turkey sausage links
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained and juice reserved
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup baby spinach
1 pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook linguine at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Remove turkey links from their casings. Cook and stir turkey in the hot skillet, breaking it up into crumbles. Continue cooking until browned, about 7 minutes.
  • Add drained tomatoes and garlic. Reduce heat and simmer until tomatoes are broken down, about 10 minutes. Mix in reserved tomato liquid, Parmesan cheese, and cream. Add spinach. Drain linguine, reserving 1/4 cup pasta water. Add pasta water to the sauce if needed. Cook and stir until spinach is wilted down, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Serve sauce on top of the drained linguine.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 536.6 calories, Carbohydrate 44.7 g, Cholesterol 114.8 mg, Fat 24.5 g, Fiber 3.7 g, Protein 34.1 g, SaturatedFat 9.2 g, Sodium 1509.6 mg, Sugar 6.9 g

SLOW COOKER HEARTY TURKEY RAGU



Slow Cooker Hearty Turkey Ragu image

Flavorful and economical, turkey thighs slow cooked with vegetables and tomato sauce create a delicious ragu to serve with chunky pasta shapes like rigatoni or penne. This recipe makes plenty of sauce, so freeze batches in small containers for quick and easy weeknight suppers.

Provided by Debra D.

Categories     European

Time 9h

Yield 1 1/2 Cups, 11 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 (1 1/2 lb) turkey thighs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided
1/4 cup olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) package button mushrooms, quartered
1/2 cup water
1 lb pasta

Steps:

  • Pat turkey dry with paper towels; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat until hot. Cook turkey thighs 8 to 10 minutes or until browned, turning once. Place turkey in 5- to 6-quart slow cooker.
  • Cook onions, carrots, celery, garlic and rosemary in same skillet over medium heat 10 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Add to slow cooker, along with tomatoes, mushrooms, water and remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
  • Cook, covered, on low 8 to 9 hours or until turkey is tender and pulls away from bones. Remove turkey, leaving cooker on. Cut into bite-size pieces; discard skin and bones. Return turkey to slow cooker; cook 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Serve ragu over pasta.

HEARTY TURKEY RAGU WW



Hearty Turkey Ragu Ww image

An easy weeknight dish that is only 3 Ww points. Serve with grilled polenta or brown rice....I have subbed the eggplant for other vegetables with great results too!!

Provided by Noo8820

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 1h10m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 green pepper, seeded and chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb ground turkey breast
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 lb eggplant, unpeeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1/2 lb white mushroom, halved
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 black pepper, freshly ground
2 tablespoons fresh oregano or 2 teaspoons dried oregano

Steps:

  • In a large nonstick dutch oven heat the oil then add the onion, bell pepper and garlic.Cook until softened ( 8 minutes or so) then add the turkey, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until the liquid evaporates and the turkey begins to brown.
  • Add the tomatoes, eggplant, mushrooms, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes.
  • Stir in the oregano and simmer until the eggplant has softened, about 10 minutes.

TURKEY RAGU



TURKEY RAGU image

Categories     Sauce     turkey     Healthy

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 lb. ground organic turkey (room temperature*)
2 15 oz. cans plum tomatoes
2 15 oz. cans Italian chopped tomatoes
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
2 medium or 3 small brown onions, peeled and diced
2 sprigs rosemary
1 tsp. fennel seeds
salt and pepper
1 cup red wine
pinch of red pepper flakes
olive oil
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

Steps:

  • 1. put a big glug of olive oil in a big sauce pan over medium-low heat 2. Add carrots, onion, garlic and let cook until soft, about 10 minutes. 3. Add red pepper flakes and bashed-up fennel seeds. 4. Meanwhile, in a frying pan over medium heat, add olive oil and the ground turkey and throw in the rosemary. Really let it get a lovely deep brown on all sides and then add it to the soffritto scraping all of the bits from the pan in. 5. Season with pepper and fleur de sel (I like one mixed with Herbs de Provence) and stir well. 6. Add the tomatoes and bring the sauce to a boil and then add one cup of red wine (not one so cheap you wouldn't drink it, a good wine makes a good sauce!). 7. Let it boil away for a few minutes. Turm the heat down to low and partially cover the saucepan. Let it blip away slowly and gently for a good 2 1/2 to 3 hours, stirring often. Serve with rigatoni and freshly grated Reggiano Parmesan. *I read in Giorgio Locatelli's cookbook that meat sears and browns when you fry it at room temperature, whereas it boils in its own juice when it's cold.

Tips:

  • Choose the right turkey: Look for a turkey that is fresh and has a good amount of meat on it. A good rule of thumb is to choose a turkey that is about 1 pound per person.
  • Brown the turkey before cooking: This will help to develop flavor and color. You can brown the turkey in a skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes per side.
  • Use a variety of vegetables: This will add flavor and texture to your ragu. Some good options include carrots, celery, onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers.
  • Use a good quality wine: The wine will add depth of flavor to your ragu. Choose a wine that you would enjoy drinking on its own.
  • Simmer the ragu for at least 1 hour: This will allow the flavors to meld and develop.
  • Serve the ragu over pasta or rice: This is a classic way to serve ragu. You can also serve it with crusty bread.

Conclusion:

Turkey ragu is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover turkey. With its rich flavor and tender meat, turkey ragu is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

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