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TURKISH PASTA GROUND MEAT recipe, served and ready to eat, easy homemade dinner
Joe Rooney

Viral Turkish Pasta Ground Meat Cozy Simple Family Favorite

This Viral Turkish Pasta Ground Meat dish is an easy dinner perfect for weeknight or family dinners. Featuring a flavorful blend of spiced lean ground beef, a creamy garlic yogurt sauce, and a comforting drizzle of paprika butter, this Turkish skillet recipe comes together quickly and makes a satisfying one pot pasta meal everyone will love.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 513

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound lean ground beef (I use 90%) (or use turkey or chicken or lamb!)*
  • ½ medium white onion, finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon mild curry powder
  • 1 pound pasta of choice (I like shellbows)
  • 2 cups whole-milk or 2% plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter
  • ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • Fresh chopped parsley and dill

Method
 

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Use a spoon or meat masher to break the meat into small pieces. Sprinkle kosher salt, plenty of ground black pepper, sweet paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and curry powder evenly over the beef while continuing to crumble it. Mix in the diced onion and stir everything together. Cook the mixture, stirring from time to time, until the beef turns golden brown and the fat is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and cover the skillet to keep the meat warm until serving.
  2. While the meat cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add your pasta and cook until tender but still firm, following package instructions. Drain the pasta and put it back into the pot.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, grated garlic, and kosher salt, stirring until smooth and well mixed. Taste and add more salt if needed.
  4. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once fully melted, whisk in the sweet paprika until it blends smoothly with the butter. Let it cook gently for 20 to 30 seconds, then remove from the heat.
  5. To serve, divide the warm pasta into shallow bowls. Spoon the garlic yogurt sauce over the pasta, then add the warm seasoned beef. Scatter the halved cherry tomatoes on top and sprinkle with fresh parsley and dill. Drizzle each bowl with the paprika butter sauce to finish.

Notes

  • *If you opt for turkey, chicken, or lamb instead of beef, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan before cooking to prevent sticking.
  • Recipe adapted from Anna Paul.