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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.
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5 from 8 reviews

Turkish Pasta Recipe

This viral TikTok Turkish Pasta Recipe will have you in a chokehold. The garlicky yogurt sauce mixed with the butter sauce is chefs kiss!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Turkish
Keyword: pasta recipe, turkish pasta, turkish pasta recipe, viral turkish pasta
Servings: 4 bowls
Author: The Modern Nonna

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.

Video

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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 788kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 507mg | Potassium: 719mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 811IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 168mg | Iron: 4mg
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