Name: Anna Paul's Turkish Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 cups Greek yogurt; 4 garlic cloves (grated); Juice from ½ lemon; Salt (to taste); 1 lb ground beef; 1 yellow onion (diced); 1 tsp sweet paprika; 1 tsp garlic powder; ½ tsp cumin; 3 tbsp tomato paste; Salt and pepper (to taste); ¼ cup butter; 1 tsp sweet paprika; Cherry tomatoes (halved); Fresh parsley (chopped); Feta cheese (crumbled); 12 oz Cooked pasta (like fusilli or penne)

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Okay, I'll admit it, I was skeptical too. Yogurt on pasta? I scrolled past Anna Paul's Turkish pasta probably a hundred times before I finally made it, and now I can say I truly get the hype. It's warm spiced beef, cool garlic yogurt, and a paprika butter you drizzle over everything while it's still sizzling. It all comes together in a surprisingly cozy and filling bowl.

Anna Paul's Turkish pasta with shells, spiced beef, garlic yogurt, cherry tomatoes, and feta

And it's so easy, that's the part that got me. Start to finish it's about 20 minutes, and most of that is just the pasta boiling. This is what I make when I want dinner to feel a little special without a big cleanup after.

If you love quick, savory pasta like this, you need to try one of these next: my Tomato Garlic Pasta, my rich and herby Pesto Pasta or my Creamy Sausage Pasta!

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Ingredient Notes
Instructions & Video
Anna Paul's Turkish Pasta
Frequently Asked Questions for Anna Paul's Viral Turkish Pasta
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Dessert Pairings

Ingredient Notes

A forkful of Turkish pasta with a shell, spiced beef, garlic yogurt, and cherry tomato

Ground Beef: the base of the spiced layer. Ground lamb is the traditional choice and is delicious here; turkey or chicken work for something lighter.
Greek Yogurt: this is the cool, garlicky layer that balances the warm beef. Sour cream or plain yogurt work too. If it's thick, thin it with a splash of water.
Tomato Paste: builds the savory depth in the beef. If you can find Turkish red pepper paste (biber salçası), it's the traditional move and even better.
Butter: for the paprika drizzle. Melt it gently over low heat so the paprika blooms instead of burning, that's what gives the dish its finish.
Pasta: a short, textured shape like fusilli, penne, or farfalle holds the yogurt and beef best.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions & Video

Spiced ground beef and onions cooked in a skillet

Sauté the diced onions, beef & seasonings!

Make the garlic greek yogurt mix!

Paprika opening in melted butter for the drizzle

Make the paprika butter!

Assembled Turkish pasta with beef, yogurt, tomatoes, and feta

Assemble everything together & serve!

Anna Paul's Turkish Pasta

5 from 1 vote

Warm pasta layered with spiced ground beef, cool garlic yogurt, and a paprika butter drizzle. The viral Turkish pasta everyone's making, and it's so easy.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: turkish

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Garlic Greek Yogurt Topping:

2 cups Greek yogurt
4 garlic cloves grated
Juice from ½ lemon
Salt to taste

Spiced Beef:

1 lb ground beef
1 yellow onion diced
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon cumin
3 tablespoon tomato paste
Salt and pepper to taste

Paprika Butter:

¼ cup butter
1 teaspoon sweet paprika

Toppings:

Cherry tomatoes halved
Fresh parsley chopped
Feta cheese crumbled
12 oz Cooked pasta (like fusilli or penne)

Equipment

Method

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.

Notes

How to Store:

Airtight up to 3 days, keep the yogurt and paprika butter separate, reheat the pasta and beef then add the fresh toppings.

Melt the paprika butter low and slow so the paprika blooms instead of burning. text

Use a short, textured pasta like fusilli or penne so it holds the yogurt and beef.

Take the garlic yogurt out of the fridge a few minutes early so it's not fridge-cold against the warm pasta.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

A gold fork lifting a pasta shell with spiced beef and cherry tomato above the bowl

Frequently Asked Questions for Anna Paul's Viral Turkish Pasta

Does yogurt on pasta taste weird?
I promise it doesn't! The cool garlic yogurt against the warm spiced beef is perfection, it tastes fresh and tangy, not sour. It's the combination that makes the dish.

What is Turkish pasta?
It's a quick, deconstructed take on manti, the Turkish dumplings. Instead of making dumplings, you use pasta and top it with spiced beef, garlic yogurt, and paprika butter for the same flavors with way less work.

What pasta is best for this?
A short, textured shape like fusilli, penne, or farfalle. The ridges and curves catch the yogurt and beef so you get everything in one bite.

Can I make it ahead of time?
Yes! Cook the beef and pasta ahead and keep them in the fridge. Make the yogurt fresh or store it separate, then assemble and add the paprika butter right before serving.

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