Turkish Pasta Recipe

By Snejana Andreeva

on Dec 04, 2024

5 from 8 reviews
Jump to RecipeRate Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Add as a preferred source on Google

When I saw Anna Paul’s Turkish Pasta Recipe going viral on TikTok, the Bulgarian 🇧🇬 in me jumped for joy. It’s essentially deconstructed Turkish Manti and features an iconic meat and yogurt flavor combo that’s a staple in Bulgaria. The tangy yogurt perfectly balances the richness of the meat, while the buttery paprika sauce takes me straight back to the Turkish eggs we make back home 🤤.

All in all, I just knew this recipe would be a banger, so I had to give it a try. And let me tell you, it did 👏 NOT 👏 disappoint 👏. I’m already a pasta fiend, and unfortunately for my fitness goals, this pasta dish has officially been added to my pasta roster and may even be a top 3 contender 🏅 —THAT’S how good it is!

Key Takeaways

  • The Turkish Pasta Recipe combines ground beef, yogurt, and buttery paprika sauce, creating irresistible flavors and textures.
  • This recipe highlights a unique yogurt and meat pairing, delivering creamy, tangy, and savory experiences.
  • You can easily customize the Turkish Pasta Recipe by using different ground meats or making it vegetarian with plant-based alternatives.
  • Serve this dish with salads, seasonal vegetables, or garlic bread for a complete meal.
  • For storing leftovers, keep components separate and refrigerate, as they last for 3-4 days.

Table of Contents

A bowl of turkish pasta topped with seasoned ground beef, sliced cherry tomatoes, dollops of sour cream, and chopped fresh herbs. The dish is served with a spoon on a light-colored plate.

Why You’ll Love This Turkish Pasta Recipe

This Turkish Pasta Recipe is blowing up for a reason. It’s giving flavor; it’s giving texture; it’s giving depth – it’s giving everything it needs to give in order for you to become completely obsessed with it, make it so often that you get sick of it, only to crave it again a few days later and repeat the same cycle (I know I’m not the only one 😌).

If you’ve never experienced the yogurt and meat pairing that’s at the heart of this recipe, now’s your moment! Trust me, this combo is unmatched, and these two ingredients complement each other so well 👌. The yogurt sauce is both creamy and tangy, providing a cooling contrast to the crispy, savory ground meat. The pasta acts as a neutral base, soaking up all those delicious flavors, while the buttery paprika sauce drizzled on top brings everything together with a rich, smoky finish 😮‍💨. This is one viral dish you absolutely don’t want to miss!

Ingredients

🍖 Ground beef: I use ground beef in this recipe, but you can sub turkey, chicken, or lamb.

🧅 Onion: I like to add a finely diced onion to the meat and saute until lightly golden for natural sweetness and depth of flavor.

🧄 Garlic: You’ll need 1–2 cloves of minced garlic to mix with a pinch of salt for a smooth yogurt sauce.

🧂 Salt: Season each component lightly to build layers of flavor as you go.

⚫ Black pepper: Freshly ground works best for max flavor and aroma.

🌶️ Sweet paprika: This dish is paprika-forward, used in both the meat and the butter drizzle. For a traditional take, you can sub Aleppo/pul biber to add gentle heat.

🧅 Onion powder: Adds an extra layer of onion flavor without the extra moisture.

🥛 Plain yogurt: Whole-milk plain yogurt or Greek yogurt works. Be sure to bring it to room temp so it won’t separate.

🧈 Butter: I use unsalted butter for the sauce. Gently melt the butter – don’t brown – to keep the paprika bright.

🍝 Pasta: You can use any shape you like. Short, ridged shapes like shells and fusilli hold the sauce well.

🍅 Cherry tomatoes: Fresh, halved tomatoes add freshness and acidity.

🌿 Parsley: Garnish with chopped parsley for a clean, herbal finish.

Nonna’s Tip 🍝

You can use whatever ground meat you love in this Turkish Pasta recipe, but keep in mind the fat content. If you’re using ground turkey or chicken you will significantly reduce the calories per serving, but make sure you add a touch of oil to the pan.

A bowl of Turkish pasta with creamy sauce, topped with seasoned ground meat, cherry tomato halves, and fresh parsley. The dish is served in a light-colored bowl with a spoon. Sunlight casts a warm glow over the meal.

Variations and Substitutions for Turkish Pasta Recipe

  1. Use whatever ground meat you love in this Turkish Pasta recipe: 🥩 ground beef, pork, lamb, turkey, chicken, or a blend all work!
  2. Make this recipe vegetarian by using your favorite plant-based ground instead of meat. You could also try using crumbled tofu, chickpeas, or lentils as well.
  3. Add some 🌶️ heat to this Turkish pasta recipe by adding a pinch of chili flakes to the butter sauce or by increasing the amount of paprika. You can also mix in some cayenne pepper with the ground meat.
  4. Absolutely use your favorite gluten-free pasta in this recipe as well.
  5. Amp up the veggie content by adding in some diced and sautéed zucchini, bell peppers, or 🥬 spinach.

Similar Recipes

Best Served With

Common Questions

can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Yes, you can certainly use your favorite plant-based ground in this recipe. You could even try using a lentil or legume, as well.

What kind of yogurt works best for the sauce?

Plain, full-fat yogurt provides a rich and creamy texture, but low-fat or Greek yogurt can also be used.

Can I use ground turkey or chicken in this Turkish pasta recipe?

Yes, you can use whatever ground meat you love. If you’re using ground turkey or chicken you will significantly reduce the calories per serving. However, make sure you add a touch of oil to the pan as lean meats don’t release as much fat when cooking. 

can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Yes, feel free to use a non-dairy yogurt here as well. Just make sure it’s plain and as thick as you can find.

can I make this with gluten-free pasta?

Yes, you can totally adapt this Turkish Pasta recipe to use gluten-free pasta. Just follow the cooking directions on the package.

How do I store leftovers?

Keep the components separate. Chill pasta, meat, yogurt, and paprika butter in their own airtight containers within 2 hours. Refrigerate for 3–4 days. Reheat meat and butter gently. Additionally, keep yogurt cold and assemble just before serving. 

Can I freeze this?

Freeze only the cooked meat sauce (flat in bags or containers) for 2–3 months. Don’t freeze the yogurt or tomatoes as they will separate. Thaw the meat in the fridge overnight, rewarm with a splash of water, and cook fresh pasta when ready to serve.

5 from 8 reviews

Turkish Pasta Recipe

A bowl of pasta with creamy sauce, topped with seasoned ground meat, cherry tomato halves, and fresh parsley. The dish is served in a light-colored bowl with a spoon. Sunlight casts a warm glow over the meal.
This viral TikTok Turkish Pasta Recipe will have you in a chokehold. The garlicky yogurt sauce mixed with the butter sauce is chefs kiss!
Rate ⭐ Print 🖨
Makes: 4 bowls
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Send This to Me!
VideoEquipmentIngredientsInstructionsNotesNutrition

A New Recipe Card!!

  1. Check off each step in instructions! check off steps
  2. Add ingredients to your shopping list! add ingredients to shopping list

Video

Equipment

Ingredients

The Meat

  • 454 grams ground beef , any ground meat
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder , to taste
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • salt , to taste
  • 1 pinch pepper
  • 1 onion, finely diced

Yogurt Sauce

  • 1.5 cups yogurt , plain
  • ½ teaspoon salt , to taste
  • 3 cloves garlic , minced

Butter Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • ½ teaspoon sweet paprika , or less

Additional Ingredients

  • 350 grams pasta , any pasta you like
  • cherry tomatoes , halved
  • chopped parsley , to taste

Instructions

  • In a large pan, on medium-high heat, add in the ground meat without any oil.
    Raw ground beef in a black skillet being pressed with a wooden spatula.
  • Break it up with a spoon and add in the salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder.
    A hand holds a small white dish with spices: garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper over a skillet with browned ground beef. Steam rises from the skillet, suggesting that it's hot and actively cooking.
  • Cook for a few minutes, add in the finely chopped onion and cook until the meat "pops" and has browned. Set aside
    A black skillet filled with cooked ground beef topped with chopped white onions. The mixture is being prepared on a stovetop, with the onions yet to be stirred into the beef.

Yogurt Sauce

  • Now, mix the plain yogurt with garlic and salt. Taste and adjust the salt as needed. Set aside.
    A bowl of white yogurt with finely chopped garlic. A golden measuring spoon holds pink salt, ready to be added to the mixture. The bowl sits on a light wooden surface with soft shadows.

Butter Sauce

  • In a small pot on the stove, add the butter and melt. Add in the paprika and cook for about a minute. Take it off the heat and start on the pasta.
    A tablespoon of red spice is being poured into a saucepan containing melted butter, set on a light-colored wooden surface. The sunlight casts gentle shadows across the scene.

The Pasta

  • Cook the pasta on the stove as per the package instructions. I like to cook it in boiling salted water. When the pasta has cooked, add it to a bowl with some of the garlic yogurt on top, followed by the ground meat.
    Bowl of pasta shells topped with a dollop of cream sauce. The background shows a cozy room with a pile of logs, candles, and festive decorations. Sunlight streams in, casting shadows on the table.
  • Next add in halved cherry tomatoes and finely chopped parsley. To finish it off, we add a drizzle of the butter and paprika sauce. Enjoy!
    A bowl of pasta with chopped tomatoes, ground meat, and sprinkled herbs. A spoon drizzles a golden sauce over the dish, enhancing its appeal. The background includes candles and wooden decor, adding a cozy atmosphere.

Nonna’s Notes

  • Protein options: Use any ground meat you love—beef, pork, lamb, turkey, chicken, or a blend.
  • Vegetarian swap: Replace meat with plant-based ground; crumbled tofu, chickpeas, or lentils also work.
  • Gluten-free friendly: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta.
  • Dairy-free swaps: Choose plain dairy-free yogurt (coconut or almond) for the sauce and vegan butter for the paprika drizzle.
  • Veggie boost: Add diced, sautéed zucchini, bell peppers, or spinach.
  • Pepper swap: Use Aleppo pepper (pul biber) instead of sweet paprika and add a tiny pinch of chili flakes for gentle heat and fruity warmth.
  • Silky sauce tip: Reserve ¼ cup starchy pasta water to loosen the yogurt if it’s too thick.
  • How to store: Keep components separate. Chill pasta, meat, yogurt, and paprika butter in their own airtight containers within 2 hours. Refrigerate 3–4 days. Reheat meat and butter gently; keep yogurt cold and assemble just before serving.
  • Freezer storage tips: Freeze only the cooked meat sauce (flat in bags or containers) for 2–3 months. Do not freeze yogurt or tomatoes; they will separate. Thaw meat in the fridge overnight, rewarm with a splash of water, and cook fresh pasta when ready.

My Notes

Add your personal notes here!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Turkish Pasta Recipe
Serving Size
 
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
788
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
39
g
60
%
Saturated Fat
 
18
g
113
%
Trans Fat
 
2
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
14
g
Cholesterol
 
123
mg
41
%
Sodium
 
507
mg
22
%
Potassium
 
719
mg
21
%
Carbohydrates
 
74
g
25
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
8
g
9
%
Protein
 
35
g
70
%
Vitamin A
 
811
IU
16
%
Vitamin C
 
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
168
mg
17
%
Iron
 
4
mg
22
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

5 from 8 votes

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Leave Your Rating




The maximum upload file size: 5 MB. You can upload: image, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here

21 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I wasn’t sure about this recipe but after reading the comments and trusting you as I have never made a recipe of yours that I didn’t love, I decided to make this for dinner. My husband came home asking “where is the sauce?” when I told him we were having pasta, So he was skeptical about dinner before even trying it. I told him to trust me. Sure enough all I hear from the dinner table as he is eating is “okay this is pretty damn good” I’m still waiting for my apology for doubting me 😛 Thanks for such an amazing recipe!!

    Reply

    1. May he never doubt you again! 🤣🤣 I’m so happy to hear this pasta turned out great for you!

      Reply

  2. Hi!!!
    I’ve been seeing this everywhere. Can I use ground sweet Italian sausage? And can I use sour cream in place of Greek yogurt?

    Reply

  7. 5 stars
    I saw this on Tik Tok and immediately wanted to see if I could find a written recipe! This is so different (for me!) and delicious! It has been so cold where I am, and this was the perfect meal to warm up to for a cozy, at home evening! Highly recommend!

    Reply

  8. 5 stars
    My family loves to eat turkey…granted we are not Turkish BUT we loved this recipe so much! It exploded in my mouth with flavor that I never had before! 🧨

    Reply

  9. 5 stars
    I’m usually weary of viral recipes, but honestly this one really had it all. These are flavours and textures I never would’ve put together, but they work so well together. I LOVED the creamy yogurt sauce…that put it over the edge for me. Winner!

    Reply