Pasta with Turkey Sausage and Peas

This healthy recipe for pasta with turkey sausage and peas makes a fast Italian skillet dinner for any night of the week.

This recipe is brought to you by DeLallo Foods

My dad loves sausage. My husband loves sausage. I love sausage. What is it about the comforting flavors of sausage and pasta that feels like a big family hug in a bowl?

But sometimes that big sausage-ey hug can feel a little too tight, a little too snug; just like my jeans. That’s why I’m lightening things up where I can and making small changes toward a healthier diet. For me, my husband, my dad, and you.

Subbing ground turkey for pork sausage is an easy switch to make, and it’s one that’s not even noticed because I have the secret to losing the fat but keeping all the flavor, and it’s all thanks to adding the same herbs and spices to ground turkey that make regular sausage taste so good.

When I ask what type of recipes you guys want to see more of, pasta always tops the list. That’s why I’m so happy to create recipes that use my favorite pastas from Delallo Foods. From linguine to tagliatelle to penne and today’s orecchiette, DeLallo’s pasta is hands down the best store brand I’ve cooked with.

DeLallo’s linguine to tagliatelle to penne and today’s orecchiette are imported from Italy and made with only the best wheats and classic methods. Whether it’s traditional pasta, whole wheat, or gluten-free, these are hands down the best tasting pastas to make it into my pantry.

see more: 28 Days of Lighter Pasta Recipes to Now

But DeLallo isn’t only about pasta. They also have an amazing selection of jarred pestos and sauces, oils and vinegars, veggies and pickled yummies, and so much more.

My pantry literally floweth over with DeLallo products.

Their selection of canned tomatoes is the best, and adding authentic canned San Marzano Tomatoes makes any tomato based recipe feel even more Italian than it already is.

How to Make Pasta with Turkey Sausage and Peas

With one swift glance through your fridge and freezer, and a swipe through the pantry, this recipe will quickly become the one you pull out of your “what’s for dinner tonight” hat. The recipe ingredients are staples you should have on hand or can be quickly picked up at any grocery store.

Here’s the ingredients you’ll need:

• Short tube or small shell pasta: I always use DeLallo pasta for it’s perfectly toothsome bite
• Ground turkey: Stay away from the ultra-lean turkey—it has zero flavor and has a squeaky bite when cooked. Regular lean ground turkey is best. Pick up a pound or if you’re thinking ahead, pull it from the freezer the night before to thaw in the fridge overnight.
• Sausage-inspired spices and herbs: See below
• Onion and garlic: no well-respected kitchen would be caught without these two cooking essentials
• San Marzano tomatoes: Crushed tomatoes make this sauce easy and creamy
• Half and half: This lightened up version of whole-fat cream thickens and flavors without all the fat
• Frozen peas: Thaw them before or simply toss frozen into the sauce
• Fresh basil and Parmesan cheese: These two finish the pasta off with flair

see more: 30 Dinners to Make When There’s No Time to Cook

How to Make Turkey Sausage

Making lower-fat ground turkey taste like savory pork sausage is as simple as adding a few signature herbs and spices. Use lean ground turkey for the most flavor. There’s no need to work the spices into this mix, simply sprinkle over the turkey when it goes into the pan.

Make ground turkey taste like sausage by adding:

• Fennel seeds: mash them with the back of a spoon or side of a chef’s knife to release the oils to create more flavor.
• Italian seasoning: use a high quality blend, or make your own with dried oregano, basil and rosemary.
• Red pepper flakes: make sure yours are fresh for best potency.
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper: Don’t get stingy with the salt, it brings out the flavor of all the other ingredients.

see more: 31 Days of Comfort Food Favorites to Make Now

What’s the Difference Between San Marzano Style Tomatoes and Regular Canned Tomatoes?

The difference between San Marzano style tomatoes and regular old canned tomatoes comes down to sweetness and acidity.

Long and slender, DeLallo’s San Marzano tomatoes are grown in the Naples region of Italy and are handpicked from the rich volcanic soil of nearby Mt. Vesuvius. These tomatoes offer a pure tomato flavor with a balance of acidity and sweetness that can taste almost jammy. These characteristics make them especially delicious in sauces like this one.

see more: 30 Healthier Spring Pasta Recipes to Make Now

Once the sauce has cooked down, we loosen it with a bit of half and half to cook down and lighten the tomato flavor. Creamy, sweet tomato sauce is my litral jam.

Under cook the pasta by a 1-2 minutes from what’s instructed on the package directions so it can finish cooking in the sauce, absorbing the flavors as it finishes off without becoming too soft.

Stir in the frozen peas thawed or frozen, either way works. The handful of ground Parmesan cheese adds umami, depth and bit of saltiness.

I’m generous with the fresh basil, as one should be. You should go for it too.

This dish reheats well so leftovers — if you have them — make this dish a great one to make at the beginning of the week and have lunches or an extra dinner though the week.

You can also freeze it in individual containers for eating later.

What to Cook with This Pasta to Make a Meal

• Arugula Salad With Shaved Parmesan Three Ways
• Cantaloupe and Mozzarella Caprese Salad
• Avocado Grapefruit and Fennel Salad
• Easy 5-Minute Parmesan Zucchini
• Beet, Carrot and Pomegranate Salad

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.

4.75 from 40 votes

Pasta with Turkey Sausage and Peas

Use lean ground turkey for the sausage in this healthy pasta dinner. Extra lean ground turkey is too lean and loses any flavor.

Print SaveSaved!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword pasta

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 528kcal

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• 1 pound short dried DeLallo pasta , such as orecchiette, penne, or shells
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 medium onion , chopped
• 4 cloves garlic , pressed or minced
• 1 28- ounce can crushed DeLallo San Marzano tomatoes
• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves , plus more for garnish, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ½ cup half and half
• 2 cups frozen peas
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

• Cook the penne pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions, less 2 minutes cooking time so the pasta ideal dente. Drain and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large over medium heat. Add the ground turkey, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Use a wooden spoon to break up the turkey meat and cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until cooked through and browned. Stir in the onion and garlic and cook until the onion softens, about 3-4 minuets. Add the tomatoes and basil then season with the kosher salt and black pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes then stir in the half and half and frozen peas, then cook for 5 minutes. Toss the penne noodles with the sauce and top with the Parmesan cheese and more fresh basil.

Nutrition

Calories: 528kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 1139mg | Potassium: 881mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 560IU | Vitamin C: 15.2mg | Calcium: 205mg | Iron: 3.9mg

More Italian Pasta Recipes to Try Now

• Baked Sausage and Cheese Rigatoni
• Lighter Penne alla Vodka Recipe
• Gnocchi With Pomodoro Sauce
• Easy Homemade Pesto Pasta Recipe
• Easy Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (Instant Pot or Stove Top)

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