Turkey Bolognese with Sweet Potato Noodles

Lately I’ve been all about easy yet healthy weeknight meals. I’m actually thinking about making an entire section of this blog dedicated to them because I feel like I could post one a week! I don’t know how it will look yet but I feel like they need to be more searchable. Any ideas are welcome.

Let me know if you’d like to see that happen and, if so, any specific recipes you’d like my take on.

My go-tos lately have been rice bowls with peanut sauce,  slow cooker chicken taco bowls, and the turkey bolognese I’m sharing today. I try to buy as many veggies pre-chopped (or spiralized in this case as possible).

With the baby, I’m usually exhausted by 6pm and the thought of chopping onions makes me want to take a nap, which in turn had me giving up and ordering in too often. Once I started spending an extra few dollars on pre-chopped onions and other vegetables, I ended up saving money in the long run because we ordered in less.

For this recipe, I’ve noted what you can buy pre-prepared but if you have more time, it’s obviously not necessary.

This dish is delicious and hearty but is gluten free and dairy free (unless you add parm on top). Pro tip: DON’T use butternut squash noodles. I tried it last week and they just fell apart and were so mushy. The sweet potato holds out much better in my experience.

Turkey Bolognese with Sweet Potato Noodles
Serves 4

Ingredients:
– 2 tablespoons, olive oil
– 1 yellow onion, chopped (or pre-chopped)
– 1 large carrot, chopped (or pre-chopped)
– 2-3 cloves garlic, minced (I use a garlic press)
– 1 teaspoon, dried oregano
– 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
– 1/2 cup red wine
– 1 28-ounce can, crushed tomatoes
– Salt and red pepper flakes to taste
– 2 large handfuls, spinach leaves
– Grated parmesan, for topping
– Fresh basil leaves, for topping
– 1 package, sweet potato noodles (or one large sweet potato that you spiralize yourself)

Directions:
Sautée the chopped onion and carrot on medium heat in 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large sauce pot or dutch oven until translucent, about 8 minutes.
Add garlic and oregano, and give it a quick stir.
Add turkey and stir, breaking up with a wooden spoon as you go
Add wine and cook until the liquid is mostly absorbed.
Add tomatoes, salt, and red pepper flakes and give it a good stir.
Turn heat down to low and cover the pot, leaving a small opening.
Cook for at least 30 minutes but up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
10 minutes before you’re ready to eat, sautée the noodles in olive oil and heavily season with salt and pepper.
While noodles are cooking, add spinach to the sauce and stir.
Plate the noodles topped with sauce followed by parmesan and fresh basil (optional).
Enjoy!

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Comments

  1. N Halm Marlatt said:

    Yes please! Healthy weekday dinner ideas are a fabulous idea for the blog! Thank you!

    1.9.18 · Reply
  2. Maddie said:

    More slow cooker recipes please!

    1.9.18 · Reply
  3. Elizabeth Bernal said:

    This looks so delicious! Did you find the sweet potato noodles at Whole Foods?

    1.9.18 · Reply
    • Julia Dzafic said:

      I did! They don’t always have them though.

      1.9.18 · Reply
  4. Robin Vaughn said:

    would LOVE more recipes!

    1.9.18 · Reply
  5. Caitlin said:

    Yum! I love your recipes! I watched you make this on stories the other night and have been waiting for the recipe. Can’t wait to try it this weekend!

    1.9.18 · Reply
    • Julia Dzafic said:

      Oh good! Let me know how it goes. I’ve made it twice in the last week, it’s so good!

      1.9.18 · Reply
  6. Britta said:

    Love healthy recipes – any crock pot recipes would be greatly appreciated. Right now the ease of throwing a bunch of stuff in a crock pot and hitting a button makes my heart swoon

    1.9.18 · Reply
  7. Emily said:

    Yes!!!! I would love more recipes!!

    1.9.18 · Reply
  8. graceatwood said:

    oh my god this sounds SO GOOD.

    1.9.18 · Reply
    • Julia Dzafic said:

      It’s actually amazing. Try it!

      1.9.18 · Reply
  9. Virginia Merati said:

    Sounds amazing!

    1.9.18 · Reply
  10. Taylor Martin said:

    Looks so good, can’t wait to try! I’ve only ever tried zucchini and butternut squash ‘zoodles’, and my store has the sweet potato zoodles but I never knew what to make with it. Will have to pick them up next time!

    1.9.18 · Reply
    • Julia Dzafic said:

      It’s a nice mix, try it!

      1.9.18 · Reply
  11. Katie said:

    So glad you shared this–I meant to write it down when I saw it on your Instastories but forgot before it was gone! I have a quick question–I’m doing Whole 30 this month so I’m not cooking with wine–what’s a good sub? Broth?

    1.9.18 · Reply
    • Julia Dzafic said:

      I think that’s a good option, yes! Let me know how it goes.

      1.9.18 · Reply
  12. Kristen Woolsey said:

    Yummy!

    1.9.18 · Reply
  13. Emily said:

    Julia,

    I LOVE your recipes. I’ve made almost all of them on repeat and always share them with my mom. Fun fact: We made the Banza pasta/sausage/pesto one the night I got engaged! Thanks for always sharing!

    Emily

    1.9.18 · Reply
  14. Allie said:

    This sounds delicious! And I would love to see a blog section dedicated to healthy meals. I’m so bad at meal planning-every little bit helps! xAllie p.s. I’ve been looking into the vegetable chopper attachment for my aKitchenAid mixer, I’ll let you know if it’s a game changer! http://www.theallthatglittersblog.com

    1.9.18 · Reply
  15. Amanda Shirley said:

    I love this recipe! I remember on instastories that you added spinach, at what point in the recipe to you add it? Before you let it simmer or right before you serve it? Thanks!

    1.9.18 · Reply
    • Julia Dzafic said:

      Oh my gosh I’m such a dummy! Totally forgot that step. Just added it into the recipe. Thank you!

      1.9.18 · Reply
  16. Erika said:

    Made this last night & put it over the top of a bowl of spaghetti squash – so delicious! I’ve seen wine in recipes before, but it really added a lot of flavor to the sauce. Will be keeping this recipe on hand for quick/easy weeknight meals!

    1.12.18 · Reply
  17. Gold Coast Girl said:

    This looks so healthy and delicious! I will for sure be making it soon. Thanks for the recipe idea!
    ~Samantha
    http://goldcoastgirlblog.com

    1.12.18 · Reply
  18. Monica Duggan Webster said:

    Yum, thanks Julia!!

    1.12.18 · Reply
  19. Katie Mastrone said:

    Omg this sounds so good! I definitely want to try the sweat potato noodles!

    xoxo,
    Katie
    chicincarolina.blogspot.com

    1.13.18 · Reply
  20. Brittany Cerminara said:

    Made this last night – so delicious and husband approved! Thanks for sharing! I substituted turkey broth for wine since I’m on Dry January 🙂

    1.16.18 · Reply
    • Julia Dzafic said:

      Oh yum! Such a smart idea, nice work!

      1.16.18 · Reply
  21. Kate Zimmerman said:

    This was amazing!! I made it for my boyfriend and myself last night and we both really enjoyed it. Making your own sweet potato noodles was no easy task but we both loved the flavor so much! Where did you buy yours?

    1.17.18 · Reply
    • Julia Dzafic said:

      I got mine at Whole Foods! So glad you loved it.

      1.17.18 · Reply
  22. Jessica said:

    Could you include a link to a printable copy/fits on one screen for easy direction following/shopping? Your recipes have been fantastic so far – love seeing them on Instastories too. Thanks!

    3.14.18 · Reply
    • Julia said:

      Oh man I have no idea how to do that but I’ll look into it and see if I can build something like that for all of my recipes!

      3.15.18 · Reply