About this recipe

A viral Turkish-inspired pasta dish featuring tender bowtie or penne pasta tossed in a rich, garlicky yogurt sauce, topped with spiced ground beef and a drizzle of smoky paprika butter. Creamy, savory, and deeply satisfying — this weeknight dinner comes together in under 45 minutes and has taken social media by storm for good reason.

Instructions

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.

2. 2

   While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over ^[medium-high heat]. Add the ground beef and diced yellow onion. Cook, breaking the meat apart with a wooden spoon, for 7–9 minutes until the beef is browned and the onion is softened. Add 3 cloves of garlic minced, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir and cook for another 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Drain any excess fat and set aside.

3. 3

   In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the room-temperature yogurt, 2 cloves of garlic minced, and salt until smooth and creamy. Add the drained penne pasta and toss well to coat. If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water and toss again.

4. 4

   In a small saucepan over ^[medium-low heat], melt the butter. Once melted, stir in the paprika and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant and the butter turns a deep red color. Remove from heat immediately.

5. 5

   Divide the yogurt-coated penne pasta among serving bowls. Spoon the spiced ground beef generously over the top. Drizzle the warm paprika butter over each bowl and finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Serve immediately.