Recipe: Protein Spaghetti

I'm excited to share one of my easy, go-to recipes with you: Protein Spaghetti! 🍝 This is a super easy and tasty pasta dish.

Savory ground turkey, hearty chickpea pasta, and a medley of aromatic herbs and spices, all simmered together in a rich marinara sauce. Trust me, your taste buds are in for a treat! Plus, it's perfect for meal prep – just whip up a double batch and thank yourself later when you have delicious lunches or dinners ready to go for the week.

I'm all about efficiency in the kitchen, which is why I love doubling this recipe and preparing it for a week of meal prep. It's a lifesaver for busy days when cooking from scratch isn't an option. Simply portion out the servings into containers, pop them in the fridge or freezer, and voila – instant homemade meals whenever you need!

And let me tell you, this recipe saves like a champ and reheats beautifully. Let's go into the ingredients:

Ingredients:

• 1.7 lbs Ground Turkey: Packed with protein and flavor, this lean meat will be the star of our dish.
• 8 oz Dry Chickpea Pasta: A healthier alternative to traditional pasta, chickpea pasta is gluten-free and loaded with fiber and nutrients.
• 1 Medium Onion: Adds a sweet and savory depth to our sauce.
• 3 Cloves of Garlic: Because, let's be honest, garlic makes everything better.
• 3 Cups of Rao's Marinara: Feel free to use your favorite store-bought marinara sauce, or if you're feeling adventurous, whip up a batch of my homemade marinara (recipe link below)!
• 1.5 tbs Italian Seasoning: A blend of oregano, basil, thyme, and more – the secret weapon for adding that classic Italian flavor.
• 2 tbs Oil: Your preference of oil, that can withstand high heats and is less processed.
• 2 Cups of Spinach: Sneak in some extra greens for added nutrition and color.
• 1 Whole Spaghetti Squash: Swap traditional spaghetti for spaghetti squash for a low-carb twist!
• Salt and Pepper to Taste: Seasoning is key to elevating the flavors of our dish.
• Top with Cheese or Cottage Cheese to Taste: Optional, but highly recommended for a creamy finish. (Not included in Nutrition Content)

Without further ado, here is the recipe!

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Protein Spaghetti

Yield: 5

Author: Walkyria Whitlock

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 1 HourInactive time: 20 MinTotal time: 1 H & 35 M

This is a super easy and tasty pasta dish. I often double this recipe and prepare for a week of meal prep for Chance and me. It saves well and reheats nicely. This is a more nourishing recipe than what you likely grew up with! If you want to kick it up a notch, try my marinara recipe!

Ingredients

• 1.7 lbs Ground Turkey
• 8 oz Dry Chickpea Pasta (any noodle shape will be fine!)
• 1 Medium Onions
• 3 Cloves of Garlic
• 3 Cups of Rao's Marinara
• 1.5 tbs Italian Seasoning
• 2 tbs Oil
• 2 Cups of Spinach
• 1 Whole Spaghetti Squash
• Salt and Pepper to Taste
• Top with Cheese or Cottage Cheese to Taste (Not included in Nutrition Content)

Instructions

Prepare the Spaghetti Squash

1. Preheat Oven to 400 Fahrenheit.
2. Line a baking sheet with a Silicone baking liner.
3. Cut Spaghetti Squash in Half.
4. Scoop Out Your Seeds.
5. Lay Open-side Down, Skin Facing Up on the Baking Sheet.
6. Bake for 45 minutes or until tender to fork.
7. Remove from oven and allow to rest for a few minutes.
8. Begin to scrape the sides with Forks to Break up the Squash into its noodlelike pieces.

Prepare the Meat Sauce

1. Heat Large Pan to Medium/Low
2. Add Oil to Warmed Pan. Warm Oil.
3. Add Chopped Onion and Garlic to Warmed Oil. Fry for 2-3 Minutes.
4. Add Italian Seasoning to the mixture. Toast for 1-2 Minutes.
5. Add Ground Turkey to Pan. Flatten Ground Turkey to Touch Base of the Pan. Begin to Break up the Ground Turkey with Your Spatula. Cooking and rotating the uncooked mixture to the base of the pan, continuing to break it apart into crumbles. The mixture should turn from pink to light brown and be more firm to the touch. This will take 10-20 minutes, depending on your pan/heat setting.
6. Strain ground meat mixture.
7. Add Spinach to the empty pan, cook until lightly wilted.
8. Add in Ground Meat Mixture and Pour in Sauce.
9. Heat to medium/low.
10. Ready to Serve!

Prepare the Noodles

1. Bring a Large Pot to Boil (Chickpea Noodles tend to over-boil so grab something taller than necessary, if possible)
2. Add Noodles to pot and allow pot to simmer for 7-9 minutes (or whatever the time calls for on the box. Try not to stir as chickpea noodles tend to fall apart more easily.)
3. Strain/Rinse Noodles
4. Ready to Eat.

Put it Altogether

1. Now you have 5 servings of Spaghetti! Divide and store or serve it all together!
2. Another option is to take half of your Spaghetti Squash, placing it into a baking dish, and making it into a casserole by adding half of your noodles and marinara sauce on top. Add in some cheese and bake it in the oven for ~10 minutes at 400.
3. Enjoy and leave it a review.

Nutrition Facts

Carbs

50.72 g

Fat

13.06 g

Protein

51.34 g

Calories

486.8

Cholesterol

84.82 mg

Fiber

12.76 g

Sat. Fat

1.49 g

Sodium

867.07 mg

Sugar

15.6 g

Net carbs

37.96 g

May have slight variations in nutritional value based on the specific ingredients you source.

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