Thai Turkey Cabbage Bowls with red bell pepper, onions, garlic, ginger, carrots, and an amazing sweet and tangy sauce. This easy meal comes together in 30 minutes or less and is jam packed with flavor!
These Thai Turkey Cabbage Bowls are loaded with all sorts of colorful veggies and lean ground turkey. Cabbage (I use both green and purple, but you can use either), bell pepper, onions, garlic, ginger, and carrots bring Vitamins and antioxidants to the table for an anti-inflammatory meal.
Everything is tied together with a sweet and savory umami sauce that you may just want to chug, it’s so tasty.
Truly, when I’m feeling ravenously hungry and am looking to feel not just satisfied, but full, I make sure to include a huge amount of veggies and plenty of protein in my meal.
And a big side of Crowd-Pleasing Roasted Vegetables is always welcome, because I’m a true lush for veggies.
Cabbage and ground turkey are two ingredients that might not seem like an obvious pairing, but they can actually combine to make some really delicious meals. If you’re looking to add more vegetables or lean protein to your diet, cabbage and ground turkey are a great option. In this article, I’ll explain the benefits of cooking with cabbage and ground turkey, provide 15 recipe ideas to spark your creativity, and give tips on how to cook cabbage and ground turkey so you can make the most of these nutritious ingredients.
Why Choose Cabbage and Ground Turkey?
Cabbage is an underappreciated vegetable that offers a lot of nutritional value. It’s packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium, and fiber. Cabbage has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well. It’s also low in calories and carbs, making it a great choice for low-carb or keto diets.
Ground turkey is a lean and versatile protein source It’s lower in fat and calories compared to ground beef Ground turkey provides nutrients like niacin, vitamin B6, selenium, and zinc. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to pricier proteins.
When you combine cabbage and ground turkey you get a meal that offers a balance of veggies and protein. Cabbage contributes volume nutrients, and fiber, while the ground turkey provides sustaining protein. They simply work well together to create satisfying dishes. The neutral flavor of cabbage pairs nicely with the meaty flavor of turkey too.
15 Creative Ways to Cook Cabbage and Ground Turkey
From Asian-inspired bowls to comforting casseroles, here are 15 delicious ways to cook cabbage and ground turkey:
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Turkey Florentine Stuffed Cabbage Rolls: Stuff cabbage leaves with ground turkey, spinach, and cheese, then bake in tomato sauce.
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Ground Turkey and Cabbage Stir Fry: Sauté ground turkey and shredded cabbage with garlic, ginger and soy sauce for a quick weeknight meal.
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Cabbage Patch Turkey Soup: Simmer ground turkey and chopped cabbage with tomatoes, beans, and seasonings for a hearty soup.
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Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Skillet: Cook ground turkey with rice and cabbage, then seasoning it like stuffed cabbage rolls without the tedious rolling.
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Egg Roll Bowls: Make egg roll filling by sautéing ground turkey with cabbage, carrots, onion and Asian seasonings. Serve over rice.
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Turkey Cabbage Casserole: Combine cooked ground turkey and chopped cabbage with cheese and mushroom soup, then bake until bubbly.
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Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole: Substitute ground turkey for ground beef in this comfort food classic made with hash browns and cheese.
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Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps: Sauté ground turkey with cabbage, water chestnuts, garlic and ginger, then serve in lettuce cups.
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Ground Turkey and Cabbage Alfredo: Make a lighter version of pasta Alfredo by using spiralized cabbage instead of noodles and ground turkey instead of heavy cream.
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Turkey Cabbage Skillet: Simply sauté onions and cabbage in one pan then add ground turkey, garlic and seasonings for an easy weeknight dinner.
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Korean Ground Turkey Bowls: Flavor ground turkey and cabbage with Korean chili paste, sesame oil, garlic and scallions for a spicy bowl meal.
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Cabbage Roll Soup: Simmer ground turkey and rice with tomato sauce and cabbage to create the flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls in hearty soup form.
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Thai Turkey Lettuce Cups: Sauté ground turkey in Thai red curry paste, serve wrapped in cabbage leaves and topped with peanuts.
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Shepherd’s Pie with Turkey: Make the classic shepherd’s pie with ground turkey, veggies like carrots and cabbage, and mashed potato topping.
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Turkey Cabbage Sloppy Joes: Brown ground turkey with tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and spices, then serve on cabbage leaves instead of buns.
As you can see, the possibilities are endless when cooking with ground turkey and cabbage!
Cooking Tips for Cabbage and Ground Turkey
Here are some helpful tips to ensure your cabbage and ground turkey dishes come out perfectly:
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Shred or finely chop the cabbage so it cooks faster. Massage the shredded cabbage with salt to help soften it.
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Cook ground turkey in a skillet over medium-high heat. Break it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
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Avoid overcooking cabbage and ground turkey, as they can become watery and lose flavor. Cook just until turkey is browned through and cabbage is tender.
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Add flavor to dishes with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, curry paste or spices like cumin or paprika.
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For stuffed cabbage rolls, blanch cabbage leaves in boiling water first so they are pliable enough to roll.
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Braise or simmer cabbage in soup and stew recipes to reach tender perfection.
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Sauté onion and garlic first before adding ground turkey to infuse flavor.
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Cook raw rice right in the pan alongside ground turkey and cabbage in skillet recipes.
With these handy tips, you’ll be ready to whip up all kinds of delicious cabbage and ground turkey meals for dinner. This combo is budget-friendly, nutritious and satisfying. The options are truly endless, so get creative with seasonings and ingredients to make these two simple ingredients shine. Just keep in mind the cooking methods that bring out the best in cabbage and ground turkey. In no time, you’ll have a tasty dinner ready to enjoy!
How to Make Thai Turkey and Cabbage Bowls:
Prepare the sauce by adding all of the ingredients to a small blender or bowl and blend until well-combined and creamy.
Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet or thick-bottomed pot and add the onion. Sauté, stirring frequently, until the onion just begins turning brown, about 5 to 8 minutes.
Move the onion off to the side and add the ground turkey. Allow it to brown on one side for 2 to 3 minutes before breaking it into smaller pieces and mixing it in with the onion.
Add the garlic, ginger, cabbage, bell pepper, carrot, and green onions the remaining ingredients) and stir well. Cover the skillet (or pot) and cook until the vegetables have wilted and are easier to stir, about 5 to 8 minutes.
Remove the lid and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the vegetables have softened and much of the liquid has evaporated, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Serve in bowls with sauce drizzled on top (note: you can also mix the sauce into the stir fry, but I prefer drizzling it on top for funsies).
You can sprinkle bowls with chopped nuts such as almonds, peanuts, or roasted cashews (I did Brazil nuts), or some sesame seeds.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
If you love vegetable and protein-loaded meals that are infused with cabbage, also try these healthy recipes!
Enjoy this quick and easy healthy meal!
Ingredients for Thai Turkey & Cabbage Bowls:
For the Bowls: Onion, ground turkey, fresh garlic, fresh ginger, cabbage (I use both green and purple), bell pepper, carrots, green onion.
For the Sauce: Sunflower seed butter (or peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, tahini, or nut or seed butter of choice), coconut aminos, rice vinegar, sriracha, pure maple syrup, and curry powder.
The combination of all of the fresh ingredients together with the sauce makes for a flavorful, nourishing meal that goes down super easily.
HOW TO COOK CABBAGE WITH GROUND TURKEY
FAQ
What can I add to ground turkey to make it taste better?
When not to cook ground turkey?
Is ground turkey a healthier option?
Should I season ground turkey before cooking?
Is cabbage with ground turkey healthy?
Welcome to my site, and happy hunting! Cabbage with Ground Turkey: A Hearty and Healthy One-Pot Meal This easy and delicious recipe for cabbage with ground turkey is perfect for a quick and healthy weeknight meal. Made with simple ingredients, this dish is packed with flavor and nutrition.
What is cabbage soup diet?
It is one of the fad diet followed in 1980’s. To attain quick weight loss this diet gained popularity. It is basically including large quantities of cabbage soup the whole day for a week. There is a regime to include 1 or 2 low calorie foods along with cabbage soup. It is basically a low calorie diet with lack of many nutrients. Weight loss can be achieved but regained after going back to routine diet.
How do you cook a turkey without cabbage?
If you don’t like cabbage, replace it with chopped green peppers. Simply saute the peppers with the turkey, onion and garlic. —Susan Lasken, Woodland Hills, California Cook the turkey, onion and garlic in a large saucepan over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, 5-7 minutes, breaking turkey into crumbles; drain. Add the remaining ingredients.
What is the difference between ground turkey and cabbage?
Cabbage is a versatile vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to soups to stir-fries. It’s also a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Ground turkey is a lean protein that is also high in nutrients. When combined, cabbage and ground turkey make a hearty and healthy meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner.