With bright & tasty orange ginger sauce, this veggie-packed ground turkey stir fry with cabbage will be an absolute hit at your dinner table!
Looking for a quick, healthy, and tasty weeknight dinner? This easy ground turkey and cabbage stir fry is the answer! Packed with lean protein, fiber-rich veggies, and mouthwatering Asian flavors, it comes together in a single pan for fuss-free cooking. Keep reading for the simple recipe, pro tips, and modifications to make this flavorful stir fry your new go-to.
Benefits of Ground Turkey and Cabbage
This classic combo provides a powerful nutrition punch. Here’s what you gain:
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Lean Protein – Ground turkey delivers more protein than beef or pork with less fat and cholesterol. This supports muscle growth satiety, and overall health.
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Vitamin C – Cabbage is loaded with immune-boosting vitamin C. Enjoy over half your daily needs in each serving!
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Fiber – Cabbage brings 2-3 grams of fiber per cup for digestive and heart health. Carrots add fiber too.
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Potassium – Turkey and veggies like cabbage supply this electrolyte to lower blood pressure
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Iron – Ground turkey and dark leafy greens provide iron to oxygenate your blood and prevent anemia
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Low Calorie – At under 400 calories per serving, this dish won’t break your daily limits. Volume eating at its finest!
With all these benefits, it’s easy to see why this flavorful combo deserves frequent rotation in your meal planning.
Ingredients for Ground Turkey Cabbage Stir Fry
The ingredients are simple:
- Ground turkey (93% lean)
- Green cabbage
- Carrots
- Green onions
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Soy sauce
- Toasted sesame oil
- Sriracha (optional)
For even easier prep, use pre-shredded cabbage and bagged matchstick carrots. With a few pantry staples like soy sauce and sesame oil, dinner comes together in minutes.
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
Follow these easy steps:
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Prep vegetables – shred cabbage, grate carrots, slice green onions, mince garlic, and grate fresh ginger.
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Cook ground turkey – sauté with garlic, ginger, and seasoning until browned.
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Whisk sauce – mix soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha, and brown sugar.
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Cook cabbage and carrots – stir fry into turkey mixture for 2-4 minutes.
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Add sauce and finish – toss in sauce, green onions, and zucchini. Cook 1-2 minutes more.
That’s it! For extra flavor, garnish withilantro or sesame seeds. Enjoy this better-for-you one pan meal.
Tips for the Best Ground Turkey Cabbage Stir Fry
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Use a large skillet or wok to fit all the volume. Overcrowding leads to steaming, not stir-frying.
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Prep all ingredients before cooking – it goes fast once the pan gets hot.
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93% lean ground turkey has the best flavor and moisture. Avoid 99% lean options.
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Toasted sesame oil adds incredible depth. Find it by the other Asian ingredients.
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For easy prep, use bagged coleslaw mix and matchstick carrots.
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Sriracha mayo makes a creamy, spicy condiment for dipping or drizzling.
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For crunch, add sliced water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, or roasted peanuts.
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Serve over cauliflower rice or quinoa instead of white rice to cut carbs.
FAQs
Can I use chicken instead?
Absolutely! Lean ground chicken is a great alternative. Follow the same recipe.
What if I don’t like heat?
Simply reduce or omit the sriracha from the stir fry sauce. It will still be tasty.
Can I add other vegetables?
Broccoli, bell peppers, snap peas, and water chestnuts all make great add-ins.
How long does it keep?
Store leftovers in the fridge up to 4 days. Don’t freeze, as the texture declines.
More Quick and Healthy Ground Turkey Recipes
If you love this ground turkey and cabbage stir fry, try these easy, nutritious turkey dishes next:
- Greek Turkey Burgers
- Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles
- Turkey Lettuce Wraps
- Turkey Taco Skillet
- Thai Turkey Lettuce Cups
The possibilities are endless for reinventing ground turkey! It’s budget-friendly, protein-packed, and a lighter alternative to beef for classics like chili, sloppy joes, pasta sauce, and more.
Satisfying and Nutritious
This quick single pan meal proves you don’t need complex recipes or fancy ingredients to whip up a nutritious dinner the whole family will love. In 30 minutes or less, you can enjoy a hearty turkey and cabbage stir fry brimming with veggies, protein, fiber, and mouthwatering Asian flair. Make this staple your new go-to for busy weeknights!
Storage, Freezing, & Reheating
- This ground turkey stir fry will keep in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days.
- To freeze, pack the stir fry in an airtight freezer-friendly bag and lay it out flat, letting all of the air out. Seal it up and pop it in the freezer for 3-4 months.
- When reheating leftovers, you can either heat it up slowly in a pan over medium-low heat, or in the microwave at 25-second increments.
What to Serve With This
- Seared baby bok choy is one of my go-to’s when making this stir fry with cabbage. I’m always in for extra greens!
- Rice is another great companion for this stir fry, and I’m no stranger to a quick 90-second microwaveable rice packet! But if you’re looking to be extra, coconut ginger rice is fantastic.
- Smashed Cucumber Salad is a favorite in this house. It’s crisp, cool, and goes wonderfully with Asian-inspired dishes.
- You can get creative with the vegetables and add or omit whatever you like. Just be sure to sautée the vegetables that take longer to cook (in this case it’s broccoli, peppers, and scallions) for about 3-5 minutes before adding the more delicate vegetables (carrots, mushrooms, cabbage) that take less time. We don’t want to overcook anything.
- To save time, you can buy your veggies pre-cut or pre-shredded (think: bag of coleslaw).
- If you decide to roughly chop the cabbage instead of thinly shaving with a mandolin it like this recipe calls for, add it into the pan with the broccoli and peppers in the beginning since it will take longer to soften.
- This is a fantastic meal prep option. Cook a pot of rice in addition to this recipe, then divy it all up into containers for a few days worth of lunches!
*Exact measurements are included in the recipe card below.
- Olive or avocado oil. For sautéing.
- Ground turkey. You can go with whatever lean-to-fat ratio you prefer. I typically use 93% lean / 7% fat, but when testing this recipe I used 99% fat free and it worked out great. No dry turkey!
- Fresh ginger. We’ve already got ginger in the sauce, but I like adding it to the stir fry as well. You could easily omit this, however.
- Garlic. Minced or thinly sliced is fine.
- Red cabbage. I love stir fry with cabbage. It reminds me of an egg roll bowl of sorts. I used red for an extra pop of color, but green works just fine.
- Other vegetables. I use broccoli, red bell pepper, shiitake mushrooms, scallions, carrots, and red cabbage. However, any of these can be omitted or swapped out for another veg you love!
- Water chestnuts. Optional, but who doesn’t love that crunch?
- Stir fry sauce. I’ve included my orange and ginger stir fry sauce recipe in the recipe card. You’ll love it! It’s bright and refreshing while still maintaining the depth and umami of other stir fry sauces.