Name: Pesto Turkey Skillet Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 cup uncooked orzo or other small pasta; 1 pound ground turkey; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 medium yellow onion (diced); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 medium zucchini (diced); 1 cup frozen corn; 1 cup frozen peas; 2-3 tablespoons pesto; 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese; Salt and pepper (to taste)

This Ground Turkey Skillet is an easy 30-minute dinner loaded with vegetables and fresh flavors! Lean ground turkey, pasta, and pesto is a delicious combination and perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Overhead shot of pesto turkey skillet in a silver skillet with blue and white napkin at top with herbs

Pesto Ground Turkey Skillet

I’m always experimenting with different ways to use ground turkey and this Pesto Turkey Skillet is a new favorite. Pesto goes with just about anything and this skillet is no exception. Veggies, pasta and lean turkey tossed with a light pesto sauce is so delicious.

It’s a 30-minute dinner recipe – my most favorite kind! – that’s full of vegetables like peas, corn and zucchini. It’s a complete dinner with meat, pasta and veggies with a light and flavorful pesto sauce. It has everything you need, so no need to make extra side dishes to go with it.

Ingredients

Ground Turkey: I think this dish tastes best with ground turkey but you can substitute lean ground beef or even ground chicken if you like.
Orzo: I love to use orzo which is a little pasta shape that looks a lot like rice. If you can’t find it you can use other small pasta like ditalini or even elbow macaroni.
Yellow Onion: Sharpen your knives! Many ingredients in this recipe need to be diced like this onion!
Garlic: This garlic will need to be minced!
Zucchini: I cut this zucchini small so it was easy to eat within the rest of the skillet.
Corn: I used frozen corn to make this recipe even easier!
Peas: I also used frozen peas!
Pesto: Use any store-bought brand or make homemade pesto!
Parmesan Cheese: I grated this cheese over top of the skillet! You could also use shredded cheddar.

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vegetables and ground turkey cooking in pot.

How to make Ground Turkey Pesto Skillet

Cook orzo according to package directions.
Meanwhile, cook turkey in a large skillet until cooked through and no longer pink, seasoning it with salt and pepper while cooking. Drain fat.
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Add the onion and cook until onions are almost translucent then add the garlic and cook one minute more.
Add the zucchini and cook until zucchini just starts to get golden brown but is not yet translucent, then add peas and corn and cook until they are hot.
Add the turkey back to the pan along with the drained orzo and reserved pasta water. Add pesto and cheese and stir.

Variations

Think of this recipe as a blank slate and adapt it to fit other things you love:

Add a can of diced tomatoes or chopped bell peppers with the vegetables.
Add some extra seasoning, like red pepper flakes, chili powder, cumin, oregano or basil or fresh cilantro.
Serve with white rice or brown rice instead of orzo.
You can even make it a sweet potato skillet by omitting the orzo and tossing with diced cooked sweet potatoes.

pasta and turkey mixed together with vegetables in a silver skillet.

Expert Tips

For the orzo, be sure to drain it using a fine-mesh strainer instead of a regular colander. This will ensure the pasta doesn’t fall through the holes!
Before you drain the pasta reserve some of the starchy cooking water. You will add it to the skillet and it will help create the sauce for the dish.
If you want to make this recipe a one pot meal, boil the pasta first and drain it. Then use the same pot to make the rest of the recipe instead of a separate skillet. It will take longer than 30 minutes to make this way, but you’ll have one less pot to wash!
If you buy store bought pesto, I recommend buying the refrigerated one. It tastes better, in my opinion.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.