One-Pot Turkey and Spinach Penne
A warm, comforting bowl of penne pasta tossed with lean ground turkey, fresh spinach, and garlic in a light, savory sauce. It takes under 20 minutes from start to finish and uses only one pan to keep your evening simple.
Prep
5 min
Cook
14 min
Total
19 min
Makes
1 serving
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Katie + Lila
Katie created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthSteadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Comfort before bed
Finish the evening satisfied, not stuffed
A well-portioned evening meal can help you avoid going to bed hungry. Notice which timing and portion feel most comfortable for you.
Notice: dinner timing + comfort
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
A steadier pause
Trade food decisions for a clear plan
A straightforward recipe and a satisfying meal can make one part of a busy day feel settled, even when the rest is noisy.
Notice: hunger + energy later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
5 min
Cook
14 min
Total
19 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Large skillet · Saucepan
Time saver
Prep the vegetables and measure pantry ingredients earlier in the day to shorten cook time.
Do these three things first
- 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
- 3Read through the steps once before you begin
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 8 steps complete
Next: Heat the olive oil in a medium…
- 01
Heat the olive oil in a medium…
Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat.
Tap card to mark done - 02
Add the lean ground turkey to the…
Add the lean ground turkey to the skillet. Cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes.
Look for: browned and cooked through
Tap card to mark done - 03
Stir in the minced garlic and cook…
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to let it burn.
Look for: fragrant, being careful not to let it burn
Tap card to mark done - 04
Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth
Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth, water, and dried oregano. Bring the liquid to a boil.
Tap card to mark done - 05
Stir in the penne pasta
Stir in the penne pasta. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
Look for: the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed
Tap card to mark done - 06
Remove the cover
Remove the cover, add the fresh spinach, and stir gently until the spinach is wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Look for: the spinach is wilted
Tap card to mark done - 07
Remove from heat and stir in the…
Remove from heat and stir in the grated parmesan cheese until melted.
Look for: melted
Tap card to mark done - 08
Serve warm directly from the pan
Serve warm directly from the pan.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
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Your symptoms change. Your plan should too.
One good meal is a start. Your whole week is better.
Tell Lila what you like, what you avoid and which symptoms are loud today. She’ll turn that context into meals, targets and small adjustments that fit real life.