Sweet Spicy Turkey Broccoli (Printable)

Tender turkey and crisp broccoli tossed in a sweet-spicy sauce with penne pasta for a flavorful meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne pasta

→ Turkey & Vegetables

02 - 1 lb ground turkey
03 - 2 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
04 - 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Sweet & Spicy Sauce

08 - 1/4 cup soy sauce
09 - 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
10 - 1.5 tablespoons sriracha or chili garlic sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Garnish

14 - 2 green onions, sliced
15 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
16 - Shredded parmesan or feta cheese (optional)

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it apart, until no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Add the chopped onion, garlic, and red bell pepper to the turkey. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
04 - Add the broccoli florets and cook for another 3-4 minutes until bright green and just tender.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sriracha, vinegar, sesame oil, and black pepper until well combined.
06 - Pour the sauce over the turkey and vegetables. Stir to coat evenly and simmer for 2 minutes.
07 - Add the drained penne to the skillet. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through, approximately 1-2 minutes.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with green onions, sesame seeds, and optional cheese.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • It's ready in thirty minutes, which means weeknight dinner without the stress or takeout app.
  • The sauce hits that perfect balance between sweet honey and spicy kick, so it tastes like you actually know what you're doing.
  • Ground turkey keeps it lean and affordable, while the broccoli and peppers sneak in nutrients nobody will complain about.
02 -
  • Don't overcook the broccoli thinking it needs to be soft, because it keeps cooking slightly in the residual heat and you want that bright, crisp element.
  • Whisk the sauce together before adding it to the pan, because if you add the ingredients separately, the honey won't dissolve evenly and you'll get pockets that are cloyingly sweet.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for thirty seconds before using them, because that's when the flavor actually wakes up and it costs you nothing.
  • Keep the heat at medium-high rather than blazing, because it gives you control and prevents the sauce from reducing too fast and becoming too concentrated.
Return