This high protein turkey spaghetti has nearly 38 g of protein per serving and only 420 calories. Perfect for quick dinners or meal prep!

High protein turkey spaghetti in two glass bowls with fresh basil and parmesan on top.

I ate spaghetti all the time growing up. It was one of my favorite meals, and still is! We used to eat it with ground beef in the sauce, and we had a very specific way of layering it when we dished our plates (or at least I did). It was always noodles, sauce, cheese (cheese had to go right on the warm sauce so it would get melty), then corn. We always had corn with our spaghetti. I didn’t realize this wasn’t normal until I got a little older and met some other people who ate spaghetti without corn. I was shocked, actually.

This spaghetti doesn’t have corn (although I would highly recommend), but still reminds me of home. I think that’s the reason it’s so comforting to me.

Not only does it bring the nostalgia, but it has a whopping 38 g of protein per serving. This helps keep you full, and aids in muscle growth/recovery. Read more about protein benefits in my post on 3 things everyone should know about protein.

Okay, let’s talk about how to make the spaghetti! You’ll just need a few things, and it’s a breeze to throw together.

What You’ll Need

Ground turkey: I use 99% lean. This has the most protein per serving and keeps this dish low in fat, which keeps it low in calories. It’s so macro-friendly and perfect if you’re meal prepping. If fat content doesn’t concern you, you could use another ground turkey, ground beef, or even ground pork.
Tomato paste: Any tomato paste is great.
Marinara sauce: Use either a plain marinara sauce or one that’s an appealing flavor to you. There are lots of sauces out there with basil or garlic flavoring. Look for one that’s about 45 calories per serving – I use the Great Value Organic brand.
Petite diced tomatoes: A 14.5 oz can. This just gives the sauce a thicker, chunkier consistency. You could even use regular diced tomatoes, I just like the smaller chunks.
Salt and pepper: To taste.
Italian seasonings: Dried oregano, basil, and thyme. Gives the sauce more depth (I have no idea if I used that phrase correctly).
Red pepper flakes: Optional, they are super yummy if you like a little spice.
Spaghetti: Just regular spaghetti noodles! To make this even higher in protein, you could use a protein or chickpea pasta, like Banza.

How To Make It

Boil the noodles: Get a big pot of water boiling to boil the noodles. You can move on to the next steps while you wait for it to boil. Once boiling, cook the noodles according to box directions. Drain and rinse.
Cook the turkey: Cook the turkey in a large deep skillet, breaking apart into small pieces until fully cooked (about 5 minutes). Season with salt and pepper.
Make the sauce: Mix in the tomato paste with the turkey, then add drained diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, and Italian seasonings and stir together. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let it gently simmer while you finish cooking the noodles.

That’s it! Build your plate with noodles, sauce, and any other toppings you love. Try the corn!

To Store

After cooling, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave.

Super quick, super simple, and so delicious. Make sure to sprinkle plenty of parmesan on top!

As always, let me know if you try this recipe out and be sure to leave a comment and review!