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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