This Turkish-inspired pasta is the ultimate comfort food, combining creamy garlic yogurt, spiced ground beef, and rich paprika butter in every bite! It’s a quick and flavorful dish that’s perfect for weeknights yet impressive enough for guests!
Trust me, once you try this dish, it’ll become a staple in your dinner rotation! It's going absolutely viral on Tiktok... and for good reason!
If you love quick savoury dishes, you are also going to love my Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe, Creamy Pesto Pasta & my Creamy Sausage Pasta!!
Jump to:
Ingredients
- Greek Yogurt
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Ground Beef
- Yellow Onion
- Tomato Paste
- Butter
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Fresh Parsley
- Feta Cheese
- Cooked Pasta
- Seasonings: Sweet Paprika, Garlic Powder & Cumin
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions & Video
Sauté the diced onions, beef & seasonings!
Make the garlic greek yogurt mix!
Make the paprika butter!
Assemble everything together & serve!
- Prepare the Garlic Yogurt:
In a small bowl, combine Greek yogurt, grated garlic, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Mix well and set aside. - Cook the Spiced Beef: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until soft. Stir in paprika, garlic powder, and cumin. Cook for another 2 minutes to toast the spices. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and tomato paste. Stir well and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Make the Paprika Butter:
In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add the sweet paprika and stir until it starts to bubble gently. Remove from heat. - Assemble the Dish: Add the cooked pasta to a serving dish or individual plates. Top with the garlic Greek yogurt, followed by the spiced beef. Drizzle the paprika butter over everything.
- Add the Toppings:
Finish with halved cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. - Serve and Enjoy!
Dig in while it’s warm for the ultimate cozy meal.
Full recipe card is all the way at the end! (scroll all the way down:)
Substitutions
- Greek Yogurt: Substitute with sour cream, plain yogurt, or a dairy-free alternative like coconut yogurt.
- Garlic: Use garlic powder (¼ teaspoon per clove) or roasted garlic for a milder flavor.
- Lemon: Swap with white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Ground Beef: Replace with ground lamb, turkey, chicken, or plant-based meat alternatives.
- Yellow Onion: Use red onion, shallots, or green onions (scallions).
- Tomato Paste: Substitute with canned crushed tomatoes, tomato purée, or ketchup (use slightly less).
- Butter: Replace with olive oil, ghee, or vegan butter.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Use diced regular tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Fresh Parsley: Swap with fresh cilantro, basil, or dill.
- Feta Cheese: Use goat cheese, ricotta salata, or a dairy-free feta alternative.
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Knife & Cutting Board
- Small Saucier pan
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the yogurt topping and paprika butter separate for the best texture. Reheat the pasta and beef in a skillet or microwave, then add the yogurt and paprika butter just before serving.
Top tips
- Use Fresh Garlic: Freshly grated garlic enhances the yogurt topping's flavor—avoid pre-minced for the best results.
- Don’t Overcook the Beef: Cook the ground beef until just browned to keep it tender and juicy.
- Layer Thoughtfully: Assemble with yogurt first, then beef, and finish with paprika butter to maintain the perfect balance of flavors.
FAQs
Absolutely! Ground lamb or turkey works well for this recipe, adding their own unique flavors while keeping the dish deliciously hearty.
Choose textured pasta like fusilli, penne, or farfalle to hold the yogurt and beef mixture perfectly in every bite.
Yes! Prepare the beef, yogurt, and paprika butter separately. Store them in the fridge, then reheat and assemble just before serving for the freshest results.
Related
Looking for other delicious recipes like this? Try these:
Dessert Pairings
These are my fav desserts to serve with this pasta dish:
Anna Paul's Viral Turkish Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a small bowl, combine Greek yogurt, grated garlic, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Mix well and set aside.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until soft.
- Stir in paprika, garlic powder, and cumin. Cook for another 2 minutes to toast the spices.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and tomato paste. Stir well and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add the sweet paprika and stir until it starts to bubble gently. Remove from heat.
- Add the cooked pasta to a serving dish or individual plates.
- Top with the garlic Greek yogurt, followed by the spiced beef.
- Drizzle the paprika butter over everything.
- Finish with halved cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
- Dig in while it’s warm for the ultimate cozy meal.
Notes
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Cypressina says
This was delicious. I added sumac to the yogurt mix, zataar to the beef, and avocado oil for half the butter (I'll use any excuse to add zataar and sumac and we're trying to eat less butter). I added cucumbers as another veggie for the mix. It was so flavorful and wonderfully garlicky. I highly recommend this.