10 Delicious Meal Prep Recipes Using Ground Turkey

These ground turkey meal prep bowls have a delicious Korean-inspired sauce! Packed with flavor and under 400 calories per bowl, you can prep this recipe on the weekend for healthy and delicious lunches through the week.

Its amazing how versatile ground turkey can be! From Thai turkey lettuce wraps to turkey taco lunch bowls, its not only versatile, but works great in meal prep as well.

Inspired by Korean beef, ground turkey is cooked up in a mixture of sweet and savory sauce that adds flavor to rice and vegetables. You can store it in the fridge or the freezer…perfect for stocking up on healthy meals!

Ground turkey has become an increasingly popular ingredient for meal prepping. It’s versatile, affordable, and a healthier alternative to ground beef. After scouring many recipes, I’ve gathered 10 of the best meal prep recipes using ground turkey. These recipes make meal prepping easy, convenient, and delicious!

Why Use Ground Turkey for Meal Prep?

There are several reasons why ground turkey works so well for meal prepping:

  • Lower in fat and calories – Ground turkey is much leaner than ground beef A 4 ounce serving of 93% lean ground turkey has around 160 calories and 7 grams of fat. The same amount of 80% lean ground beef contains nearly double the calories and fat

  • Versatile – Ground turkey can be used in so many recipes from Mediterranean bowls to burritos and chili Its mild flavor takes on any seasonings or sauces,

  • Nutritious – In addition to being lower in fat and calories ground turkey provides an excellent source of protein, iron zinc and B vitamins.

  • Affordable – Buying ground turkey in bulk can help lower meal prep costs. It’s generally cheaper per pound compared to lean ground beef.

  • Easy to cook – Ground turkey cooks up quicker than beef. It can be cooked from frozen and requires minimal prep work.

10 Best Ground Turkey Meal Prep Recipes

Here are 10 delicious and healthy recipes for meal prepping with ground turkey:

1. Greek Turkey Bowls

These Greek-inspired turkey bowls are packed with flavor. They contain cucumber salad, tomatoes, feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce served over cauliflower rice. The star is the garlicky ground turkey seasoned with oregano, mint, and lemon. Make a big batch of the turkey mixture on meal prep day so assembly is easy all week.

2. Taco Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Skip the taco shell and turn your turkey taco fillings into a fresh and easy lettuce wrap. Cook up taco seasoned ground turkey and store it separately from the lettuce, cheese, salsa, and other toppings. Assemble the lettuce wraps when ready to eat for a quick, low-carb lunch or dinner.

3. Turkey enchilada Skillet

All the flavors of enchiladas in easy one-skillet form. Sauté ground turkey with onions, peppers, and taco seasoning. Add black beans, enchilada sauce, and cheese. Top with avocado, Greek yogurt, and cilantro when serving. Make enough for several meals throughout the week.

4. Turkey Chili

Lean ground turkey makes for a healthier, lower calorie chili. Cook up a big batch with beans, tomatoes, onions, peppers and chili seasoning. Turkey chili freezes beautifully so make extra to heat and eat another week. Top with cheese, cilantro and Greek yogurt.

5. Teriyaki Turkey Bowls

A simple teriyaki glaze gives ground turkey loads of flavor. Meal prep the turkey mixture and serve all week over fresh vegetables and cauliflower rice for a satisfying low carb meal. Add edamame, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, and green onions.

6. Italian Turkey Meatballs

Bake a large batch of turkey meatballs on meal prep day for easy meals all week long. Make them Italian-style with garlic, oregano, parsley and Parmesan. Serve over zucchini noodles with marinara sauce for a lighter take on classic spaghetti and meatballs.

7. Buffalo Ranch Turkey Wraps

Make buffalo ranch flavor turkey to stuff in lettuce wraps or tortillas for a fun, spicy lunch. Start by browning ground turkey with Worchestershire sauce. Then add cayenne and Buffalo hot sauce. Store the mixture separately and assemble wraps by adding the turkey, lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and Greek yogurt ranch dressing.

8. Southwest Turkey Skillet

All you need is one skillet to make this flavor-packed meal prep recipe. Cook ground turkey with taco seasoning, black beans, corn, zucchini and tomatoes. Prepare cauliflower rice and refrigerate separately. Reheat and assemble bowls with avocado, Greek yogurt, fresh lime juice and cilantro.

9. Turkey Bolognese

Swap the traditional ground beef for turkey in this lighter Italian classic. Sauté ground turkey and veggies in a skillet before simmering in marinara sauce. Meal prep jars with turkey bolognese layered over cooked whole wheat pasta. Garnish with Parmesan when ready to eat.

10. Healthy Turkey Sloppy Joes

Ditch the high sugar bottled sauce and make easy homemade sloppy joes with ground turkey. Cook the turkey with chili powder, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and garlic. Pile the turkey mixture onto whole grain buns and add shredded lettuce, pickles, and other favorite toppings.

Tips for Meal Prepping with Ground Turkey

Here are some tips to make meal prepping with ground turkey even easier:

  • Choose 93% lean ground turkey for the best flavor and moisture. Going above 93% can cause the turkey to become overly dry.

  • Browning the turkey well and draining excess fat helps keep the texture from becoming mushy over time.

  • Allow cooked turkey mixtures to cool completely before storing. Divide into individual containers for grab-and-go lunches.

  • Most ground turkey meal prep recipes can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

  • Add a vegetable side like roasted broccoli or cauliflower rice to round out the nutritional profile.

  • Mix up seasonings and sauces to keep flavors exciting. Try Mexican, Italian, Greek, Asian, etc.

  • Use lettuce wraps or whole grain buns and tortillas instead of more refined bread options.

Satisfying, Nutritious Meals Made Easy

Meal prepping with ground turkey makes healthy eating so much simpler. These recipes provide tons of inspiration for preparing tasty turkey meals to enjoy all week long. Ground turkey’s versatility lends itself perfectly to meal prepping. You can reinvent leftovers into enticing new creations like salads, bowls, wraps and more. Following these ground turkey meal prep recipes will save time and money while providing a nutritious diet.

meal prep recipes with ground turkey

Reasons you’ll ♡ this recipe

  • its ready in under 30 minutes, making it great for a quick meal prep or weeknight dinner
  • it freeze/thaws great
  • the sauce adds the perfect amount of flavor to the turkey, rice and vegetables

meal prep recipes with ground turkey

This recipe was adapted from Taste of Homes Korean Beef and Rice, which in turn, was inspired by Korean beef bulgogi. Beef bulgogi is a traditional Korean recipe that consists of thin strips of beef marinated in a delicious sauce. The beef can be skewered, then grilled, or sauteed in a frying pan. The marinade can vary widely by chef, but typically consists of a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, green onion, sugar and pear.

If you are interested in reading more about the history behind beef bulgogi, I encourage you to read this article.

Adapting these flavors into a 30 minute recipe

My goal for this recipe was to adapt the traditional flavors, but lighten it up, speed up the prep, and make it with ingredients that are readily available to North American (US/Canada) home cooks. With those goals in mind, that is how these Korean turkey bowls came about.

  • ground turkey- feel free to swap for ground beef, or chopped chicken thighs. I dont love ground chicken because it can end up drying out. Mashed tofu also works well in this recipe.
  • soy sauce- if you are gluten-free, you can swap for tamari, coconut aminos or liquid soy seasoning
  • honey- balancing out the soy sauce with a touch of sweetness is essential, but you dont necessarily need to use honey; feel free to swap for maple syrup or brown sugar. Monk fruit sweetener works if you want to make it low carb (see recipe card for quantities).
  • red pepper flakes- adds a touch of heat, but you can easily leave them out if youre serving to kiddos

Honey Garlic Turkey Bowls Meal Prep | Low Calorie, 1 Hour Meal Prep

FAQ

How long does ground turkey last for meal prep?

Why You’ll Love Meal Prepping with Ground Turkey. Convenient: This ground turkey meal lasts for up to 4 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer, making meal prep easy. Versatile: This dish can be served over rice, pasta, or lettuce or as a sandwich filling.

Is ground meat good for meal prep?

Ground beef is good for meal prep due to its high protein content, making it ideal for those looking to fuel their bodies with nutritious meals.

When not to cook ground turkey?

Look & Color. Raw turkey meat should be light pink or beige, depending on the type of meat and its fat content. The meat color becomes dull as time passes, which is normal. However, if the meat has a brown, gray or yellow or green hue, you will want to part ways with it.

How to jazz up ground turkey?

How do you add flavor to ground turkey? Turkey meat can be flavored with easy ingredients like kosher salt and pepper, bell peppers, garlic powder, and olive oil. If you’re cooking meat, specifically turkey taco meat, hot sauce and enchilada sauce are your best mates.

How do you cook ground turkey?

Cook ground turkey: Add ground turkey and brown it while breaking it up. Season and simmer: Season with spices. Pour in chicken broth to deglaze and add moisture to the meat. Serve and enjoy: Serve over your choice of prepared grains. Use it in tacos, burritos, or salads. Create grain bowls with rice, quinoa, or farro. Make stuffed peppers.

What are the Best Healthy Ground turkey recipes?

Discover twenty-one ways to bring lean ground turkey to life in your meal prep roster with these best healthy ground turkey recipes for your meal plan! 1. Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs 2. Sweet Potato Turkey Chili 3. Thai Slow-Cooker Thai Coconut Ground Turkey 4. Deluxe Turkey Burger Salad 5. Egg Roll in a Bowl 6. Turkey Enchilada Casserole 7.

What are the steps to brown ground turkey in a skillet?

This healthy ground turkey skillet cooks pretty fast. First, brown the turkey and season with salt and cumin. After about five minutes, push the meat to one side, add the onion and tomato paste, and cook for a minute. Next, add the black beans, corn, tomato, jalapeño, corn, and ¼ cup water. Then add the zucchini and remaining salt and cumin.

Is ground turkey good for meal prep?

Using ground turkey for meal prep is a great way to keep costs down and nutrition up. This lean, mean protein is great at soaking up the flavor. Enjoy these ground turkey meal prep recipes. Discover twenty-one ways to bring lean ground turkey to life in your meal prep roster with these best healthy ground turkey recipes for your meal plan! 1.

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