Ground turkey has become an increasingly popular alternative to ground beef. Not only is it leaner and often cheaper than beef, but it’s also just as versatile in recipes. Whether you’re looking for quick weeknight dinners, hearty casseroles, or flavored meatballs, ground turkey can do it all. I’ve gathered 25 of the best and easiest ground turkey recipes out there, so you can take this healthy and budget-friendly meat for a test drive. Grab a pound from the store and let’s get cooking!
Weeknight Dinners
When time is short, these flavorful ground turkey recipes come together quickly while still feeling like a satisfying meal. They’re perfect for busy weeknights.
Easy Turkey Taco Bowls
By seasoning ground turkey with a packet of taco seasoning, you can transform it into the base of these tasty taco bowls in less than 30 minutes. Top with all your favorite taco toppings like lettuce, tomato, cheese, and avocado.
Turkey and Zucchini Stir Fry
Stir fries are one of the quickest ways to get dinner on the table This one combines lean ground turkey with fresh zucchini and is flavored with ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil Serve it over rice for a complete meal.
Turkey Meatball Noodle Soup
Comforting hearty and ready in under an hour, this soup is like a warm hug in a bowl. Turkey meatballs, pasta, and veggies simmer in a tomato broth for a simple but delicious meal.
Turkey Chili
Ground turkey makes a leaner, budget-friendly alternative to beef chili. This version uses flavorful spices like chili powder, cumin, and oregano to give a richness to the turkey. Top with your favorite chili toppings.
Turkey Bolognese
Skip the heavy cream and let the vegetables shine in this lighter take on classic Bolognese. Of course, ground turkey provides more nutrition than ground beef. Serve over pasta for a fast dinner the whole family will request again and again.
Casseroles and Bakes
When you have a bit more time, try one of these comforting baked ground turkey casseroles. They’re easy to prep, perfect for leftovers, and will feed a crowd.
Italian Turkey and Zucchini Casserole
Thinly sliced zucchini gives this cheesy casserole a lighter feel. Italian seasoning, tomato sauce, and mozzarella add tons of flavor to the ground turkey.
Turkey Spinach Lasagna
Layer noodles, spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, and a quick turkey tomato sauce for a lasagna that’s meaty but healthier than the beef version. Plus, you can assemble it ahead of time and just bake when ready.
Turkey Enchilada Casserole
All the flavors of enchiladas baked up in an easy casserole. Ground turkey, beans, corn, chili sauce, cheese – it’s got it all. Customize with your favorite enchilada toppings.
Turkey Tetrazzini
Remember this classic casserole from childhood? Revisit it with a lighter spin by using ground turkey instead of spaghetti with turkey meat sauce, mushrooms, peas, Parmesan, mozzarella and a creamy sauce
Turkey and Rice Stuffed Peppers
Make these pretty stuffed peppers on the weekend and enjoy the leftovers all week. Ground turkey, rice, onion, garlic and cheese fill the colorful peppers for a meal that eats like a whole lot more effort than it actually takes.
Meatballs and Burgers
Ground turkey is a smart choice for healthier meatballs and burgers. Here are some of my go-to recipes in this category that never disappoint.
Italian Turkey Meatballs
These classic oven-baked meatballs are seriously easy and delicious. Ground turkey is seasoned with Parmesan, parsley, garlic and oregano, then simmered in marinara sauce. Serve over pasta or on a sub.
BBQ Turkey Meatballs
With chili powder, cumin, Worcestershire sauce and ketchup, these BBQ turkey meatballs are packed with smoky, sweet flavor. Bake or simmer in sauce and serve in subs or over rice.
Greek Turkey Burgers
Transport your taste buds to the Mediterranean with these juicy turkey burgers. Feta, red onion, cucumber, and tzatziki sauce round out the Greek flavors.
Jalapeño Turkey Burgers
If you like a little kick, try these spicy turkey burgers. Shredded jalapeños in the patties and jalapeño jelly on top will light your taste buds up.
Hawaiian Turkey Burgers
Why go out for a restaurant luau when you can make these tasty Hawaiian turkey burgers at home? Grilled pineapple slices and a sweet teriyaki glaze make them extra tropical.
Bonus: Breakfast and Lunch
Don’t confine ground turkey just to dinner! It works great for easy lunches and breakfasts too.
Turkey Breakfast Sausage
DIY breakfast sausage is a great way to control the quality of the meat and the flavor. This version has sage, thyme, salt, pepper and a bit of maple syrup.
Turkey Meatball Subs
Pile sliced turkey meatballs onto a sub roll with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese for an easy meatball sub.
Turkey Sloppy Joes
All the comfort of classic sloppy Joes made a little lighter with ground turkey and your favorite toppings like pickle and onion.
Turkey Taco Salad
A taco salad gets a healthy twist by using seasoned ground turkey instead of beef. Load it up with all your favorite toppings!
So there you have it – 25 easy and delicious ways to use ground turkey for dinner tonight. This healthy and inexpensive meat is so versatile. You can now see why it’s become so popular!
How Our Readers Personalize This Recipe
- JoAnne: “I added 1 cup of shredded cheese and 1 tbsp of cream cheese –really good.”
- Maddie: “I put it in a baked potato and topped it with Monterey Jack cheese and sour cream and it was delicious!!”
- Cordlyn: “very easy. added jerk sauce. delicious. loved it.”
- Dale: “I also add sliced/chopped mushrooms. To really brighten it up you can add a couple of spoonfuls of pesto sauce.”
- Cindy: “I added a small amount of bacon because I had it left from another dish I prepared. The bacon was a tasty addition to this dish.”
From the Editors Of Simply Recipes
More Great Ground Turkey Recipes
Do you like ground turkey? Check out some more of our favorite ground turkey recipes:
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EASY LOW CARB GROUND TURKEY SKILLET | GROUND TURKEY RECIPES | HEALTHY RECIPES | LOW CARB RECIPES
FAQ
What can I add to ground turkey for flavor?
Is ground turkey healthier than ground beef?
Why add egg to ground turkey?
Is ground turkey healthier than ground chicken?
What are some good ground turkey recipes?
These delicious ground turkey recipes include chili, juicy turkey burgers, stuffed bell peppers, meatballs, and more.
How do you cook a ground turkey in a crock pot?
Preheat a skillet over medium/high heat. Add the oil, bell pepper and pinch of salt. Cook for 3-5 minutes until peppers are tender. Add the ground turkey, salt, garlic powder and cumin. Cook for about 5-7 minutes until turkey is cooked through. Add salsa and beans and heat through.
How do you cook a 1 pound ground turkey?
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 pound ground turkey and cook until cooked through and browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
How long does it take to cook a ground turkey?
Ground turkey is joined by a medley of fresh vegetables including zucchini, bell pepper, spinach, onion, and garlic, in a one-pan skillet meal that is ready in just 30-minutes. Tasty and healthy, this ground turkey skillet recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, and compliant with Whole30.