Description

Healthy Taco Pasta is a delicious and nutritious one-pot meal that combines ground turkey, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and pumpkin puree with whole wheat pasta and bold taco seasoning. Finished with creamy avocado, sharp cheese, and fresh green onions, this comforting dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner that’s packed with flavor and wholesome ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein & Vegetables

1 large onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb ground turkey
15 oz can black beans, rinsed & drained
2 cups frozen corn
14 oz can diced tomatoes
14 oz can pumpkin puree
3 avocados, diced
1/2 cup green onions, chopped

Pantry & Seasonings

1 tbsp oil for frying
2 tbsp taco seasoning
2 cups water
1 1/4 tsp salt
Ground black pepper, to taste
4 cups whole wheat pasta or gluten free pasta, uncooked

Dairy

1 cup (4 oz) sharp hard cheese, shredded

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Instructions

Sauté Aromatics: Preheat a large heavy-bottom pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add oil, then the finely chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
Cook Turkey with Seasoning: Add the taco seasoning and ground turkey to the pot. Continue to sauté for 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking the turkey into small pieces with a spatula until browned and cooked through.
Add Ingredients and Boil: Stir in the rinsed black beans, frozen corn, diced tomatoes, pumpkin puree, water, salt, and pepper. Mix well and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
Add Pasta and Simmer: Add the uncooked pasta to the pot. Cover with a lid and reduce heat to low. Let it cook gently for 10 minutes until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
Finish and Serve: Turn off the heat, add the diced avocado, and gently stir to combine. Sprinkle shredded sharp cheese and chopped green onions on top. Cover the pot for a few minutes to allow the cheese to melt before serving hot.

Notes

Store: Refrigerate the pasta covered for up to 3 days for best freshness.
Freeze: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
Vegetarian: Substitute the ground turkey with an additional can of beans to make this dish vegetarian.
Pumpkin Substitute: If you prefer, replace the pumpkin puree with a can of tomato sauce instead.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/8th of recipe)
Calories: 350
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 550mg
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 4.5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 8g
Protein: 25g
Cholesterol: 55mg