Turkey Mince Bolognese with Jar Sauce (Turkey Ragu Pasta)

Are you craving Italian comfort food? This easy turkey mince bolognese pasta with jar tomato sauce is made with ground turkey for a healthier version of a favorite Italian dish.

When you're in the mood for a delicious and satisfying Italian-inspired meal but don't have hours to spend in the kitchen, this Turkey Mince Bolognese with Jar Sauce, also known as Turkey Ragu Pasta, is your perfect solution. This quick and easy recipe combines the lean goodness of turkey mince with the convenience of jarred pasta sauce, resulting in a wholesome, flavor-packed pasta dish that your whole family will adore. 

I often make pasta because it will be their choice whenever you ask my kids what to make for dinner. Their first choice is always mac & cheese. But we eventually agreed they would also eat this one-most of the time 😏. 

I stopped making dishes with ground beef some time ago and decided to concentrate more on lean meats. I sometimes make this pasta bolognese with ground pork, but I usually make it with ground turkey. If you want to learn the difference between ground turkey, pork, and beef and decide which is better for your health, head to my Turkey Meatball Recipe for helpful information.

Bolognese or Ragu?

My family and I spent last summer in Serbia, where we are originally from. And while there, my husband and I decided to travel to Italy. We spent several days in Venice and then decided to take a train and travel from Venice to Bologna. Honestly, Bologna was not our first choice, as we initially wanted to visit Florence. But my friend who visited Bologna highly recommended it, and I am so glad we took her advice. Bologna is such a beautiful city! 

Since we only had two days to spend in Bologna, we took one of the city's free tours instead of wandering around and googling what to visit. Another great decision! One thing that struck me the most among the exciting city sights and fascinating facts was that what I had known as bolognese sauce my entire life was called ragu in Bologna. And they actually might get offended if you call it bolognese 🫤. 

I am not joking when saying this, but after the official introduction with our tour guide, he said something in this fashion: "I wanted to welcome you to the city of Bologna, and I first wanted to clarify one thing. Do not order pasta bolognese when you head to the restaurant after this tour. It doesn't exist on the menu! It is called ragu." 

So, after our visit, I researched why we even call it bolognese. This is what I found. There are variations of ragu sauce, and one particularly popular in Bologna is called "ragù alla Bolognese." The literal translation would be bolognese sauce 😀, which is very rich in meat and uses less tomato sauce than the traditional ragu. Traditional ragu is more like an open book, where the cook can introduce variations and add more or less meat and other ingredients, such as mortadella. 

Simple Ingredients for Ground Turkey Bolognese Pasta

This healthy turkey bolognese recipe uses ground turkey and jarred tomato sauce. I would use tomato puree made from tomatoes from my garden if we were in season. But I used jarred tomato sauce since we are deep into the winter season. 

Some recipes for pasta bolognese call for canned tomatoes, but I have my own opinion regarding canned vegetables. If you want to learn why, please visit my How to Eat Clean for Beginners post. 

You can use any pasta in this recipe. I used Pappardelle pasta from Trader Joe's. You can even serve the ground turkey red sauce over zucchini noodles. So yum 😉👌! 

These are the ingredients you'll need:

• 1 lb ground turkey - it tastes better if you use dark turkey meat, but if you want to keep it lean, ground turkey breast will be fine, although the meat will be on the dry side.
• ½ medium onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1 large celery stalk, chopped 
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 ½ cups jar tomato sauce - I typically use tomato basil pasta sauce from Whole Foods. I never tried making it with tomato paste, but add more water in the next step if you use it. Also, if you want to make your own tomato sauce, puree the fresh tomatoes in a food processor and add the seasoning of your choice (fresh basil, bay leaves, salt and black pepper, or any other fresh herbs). 
• ½ - 1 cup water - the amount of water will depend on how thick you want your sauce to be
• ¼ cup red wine - any dry red wine will be ok
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt & black pepper to taste
• 1 lb dry pappardelle pasta - or you can use any other pasta. 

How to Make Bolognese Pasta with Ground Turkey

1. Saute onion. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook for about 2-3 minutes until they become translucent.
2. Add vegetables. Add chopped carrots and celery, and sauté for another 5 minutes until the vegetables soften. Mix frequently so the veggies don't stick to the bottom of the pan and burn.
3. Add ground turkey. Add the ground turkey to the pan, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until it's browned and cooked through about 5-7 minutes. I typically add salt & pepper at this time.
4. Add jared tomato sauce. Add 1 cup of jarred tomato sauce and ½ cup of water (you can also add water from the pot where the pasta is cooking). Add minced garlic and stir everything together and bring it to a simmer. 
5. Add red wine (optional). Pour in the red wine (if using) and let it simmer for a couple of minutes, allowing the alcohol to cook off.
6. Simmer the sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let the sauce simmer for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. This will allow the flavors to meld, and the sauce will thicken. If the sauce becomes too thick at any point, add a small amount of water where the pasta was cooking (or tap water) to the desired consistency. 
7. Cook the pasta. While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta in a large pot according to the package instructions until al dente (firm to the bite).
8. Taste the Bolognese sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
9. Serve. Serve the Bolognese sauce over the cooked pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese.

Frequently Asked Questions

In conclusion, this Turkey Ragu Pasta provides a beautiful balance of convenience, healthiness, and delicious flavors. With its lean turkey mince, aromatic vegetables, and the rich depth of flavor that jarred sauce provides, this dish is a fantastic addition to your recipe repertoire, perfect for busy evenings when you crave the comfort of Italian cuisine-a great option for a quick, healthy, and delicious dinner.

If you like this recipe, here are some other great options to try:

• Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta 
• Easy Baked Feta Pasta with Smoked Salmon (Tik Tok Pasta) 
• Creamy Spinach Pasta (The Benefits of Meatless Meals)
• Salmon Asparagus Pasta
• Easy Zucchini Noodles with Nut-Free Pesto

Are you a fan of healthy and delicious recipes like this one? Stay tuned for more culinary inspiration, nutrition tips, and wellness guides here. Subscribe to the newsletter and follow me on social media to never miss an update! Remember to share your turkey ragu-making adventures with me in the comments below.

📖 Recipe