The Best Ground Turkey Recipes (2024)

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I’ve rounded up my favorite ground turkey recipes! Many of these recipes are healthy and make awesome leftovers that are great for big batch cooking. I’ve got everything in here from chilis and soups to turkey meatballs, burgers, low-carb recipes, pasta, and tacos.

The Best Ground Turkey Recipes (1)

About ground (minced) turkey

Ground turkey is typically a mixture of light and dark meat. You can, however, buy ground turkey breast or ground turkey thigh by themselves. Typically the darker the meat, the higher the fat content. Some benefits of dark turkey meat are that it doesn’t dry out as fast when you cook it, and it tends to be more flavorful. Ground turkey in general is typically lower in fat and calories than ground beef, but it’s important to read labels to understand what you’re buying. If you’ve never cooked with ground turkey, it’s worth giving it a try. You can swap it for ground beef in many recipes.

Without further ado, here’s some great ways to use ground turkey!

Turkey Taco Stuffed Avocados from The Recipe Critic

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These stuffed avocados make an amazing low-carb lunch or snack! Load them up with your favorite toppings.

Egg Roll in a Bowl by Cooking Classy

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Skip the frying and effort and make this easy, healthier twist on egg rolls!

Greek Turkey Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce from Foodie Crush

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This Mediterranean twist on turkey burgers is perfect for a healthy dinner!

Turkey Taco Zucchini Boats from Platings & Pairings

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You won’t even miss the tortillas with this low-carb twist on taco night.

Ground Turkey Soup from Salt & Lavender

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This soup is easy to make, healthy, and inexpensive. It’s also great if you’re feeling under the weather and to use up what’s in your fridge.

Healthy Turkey Lasagna from Ambitious Kitchen

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This lasagna may be lighter but it does not skimp on flavor!

Turkey Picadillo from Table for Two

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This Latin American dish typically uses ground beef, but it’s just as delicious with ground turkey. Serve it with rice or add it to tacos!

Ground Turkey Mushroom Stroganoff from Recipe Runner

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You’ll love this lightened up take on the classic Beef Stroganoff!

Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers from Wine & Glue

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These stuffed peppers make amazing leftovers and are lighter than your typical stuffed peppers.

Green Chile Turkey Tacos by Cotter Crunch

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Roasted green chiles kick the southwest flavor up a notch in these tasty tacos.

Sweet Potato Spinach Bacon Turkey Burgers by A Family Feast

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These filling, satisfying burgers are a blend of lean ground turkey, sweet potato, onions, garlic, and fresh baby spinach – plus some chopped bacon and seasonings for added flavor.

Instant Pot Ground Turkey Lettuce Wraps by Sweet Peas & Saffron

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The best part of these wraps are that you can make them from fresh or frozen ground turkey. The leftovers keep in the fridge for a few days, and you can use the filling for more lettuce wraps or tacos, in salads, etc.

Ground Turkey Black Bean Enchiladas from Diethood

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These enchiladas are saucy, cheesy, and oh-so-good!

Turkey Sweet Potato Chili from Salt & Lavender

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This chili is healthy, cozy, comforting, and simple to make. It makes great leftovers for meal prep!

Spicy Turkey Taco Salad with Baja Dressing by Half Baked Harvest

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If you’re looking for a fun, grown-up twist on taco salad, this is it!

Skinny Turkey Sloppy Joes by Taste & Tell

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This healthier alternative to your standard Sloppy Joes are loaded with extra veggies. They’re sure to be loved by kids and adults alike!

Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps by The Endless Meal

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These Thai-inspired lettuce wraps are made with healthy ground turkey, pantry-staple Asian flavors, and drizzled with a creamy ginger tahini sauce.

Easiest Ground Turkey Stir Fry by The Girl on Bloor

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This ground turkey stir fry is healthy, delicious, and great for leftovers/meal prep!

Easy 20 Minute Turkey Bolognese from Salt & Lavender

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This is a quick andhealthy pasta sauce that also makes great leftovers!

Cauliflower Rice Turkey Taco Skillet from Fox & Briar

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This dish is a quick and easy low carb dinner. It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and is packed with veggies!

Ground Turkey Cowboy Caviar Salad by The Beach House Kitchen

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This salad is a hearty, protein-packed dish that’s perfect for a low-carb meal.

Honey Sriracha Turkey Meatballs from Chili Pepper Madness

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That honey and sriracha flavor combo make these meatballs positively addictive!

Turkey Meatloaf from Wine & Glue

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The whole family will love this lighter take on meatloaf!

One Pot Turkey Mexican Pasta by Cooking for Keeps

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Lean ground turkey is cooked with pasta, salsa, plenty of smoky spices, and just a touch of sharp cheddar cheese for a lighter take on comfort food.

Turkey Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie by Taste & Tell

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Ground turkey is combined with vegetables and an easy gravy, then topped with cheesy mashed sweet potatoes A great change up from the original!

Italian Wedding Soup with Turkey Meatballs by Jessica Gavin

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A big bowl of Italian wedding soup is a flavorful marriage of ingredients. Mini turkey meatballs are broiled until golden brown, then simmered with the vegetables.

Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese by The Recipe Rebel

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You’ll love this hearty, healthy one pot pasta that comes together in about 30 minutes!

Easy Ground Turkey Burgers from Salt & Lavender

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These ground turkey burgers are juicy, moist, and easy to make.

Which of these ground turkey recipes is your favorite? I hope this roundup helps you figure out what to do with ground turkey meat. 🙂

Recipes Roundups

The Best Ground Turkey Recipes (30)

Hi! I’m Natasha.

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The Best Ground Turkey Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to make ground turkey more flavorful? ›

The Secret Ingredient To Season Ground Turkey

There are plenty of easy ground turkey recipes out there. But, you will always need spices like olive oil, kosher salt and pepper, chili powder, and garlic powder. You can add minced garlic, and freshly chopped onions and peppers, for an extra edge.

What is the best ground turkey to eat? ›

Whether you're making ground turkey tacos, turkey burgers, or another family favorite, 93% Lean Ground Turkey will be your go-to for lean, flavorful dishes. Shady Brook Farms® turkeys are raised by independent farmers with no antibiotics ever, and with no added hormones or steroids.

Do you season ground turkey before cooking? ›

Without a good sprinkle of salt and pepper (or any other herbs and spices), ground turkey cooks up bland and flavorless. Follow this tip: Seasoning is especially important when the turkey is the star of the plate, like with burgers, meatballs, and meatloaf.

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.

What can I add to turkey to make it taste better? ›

The basics, like onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage, help lend that traditional Thanksgiving flavor. Take your aromatics up a notch by adding halved lemons or oranges. The citrus will add a nice brightness to the turkey and keep it perfectly moist.

How to season a turkey really good? ›

There are two main ways you can season a turkey.
  1. Dry brine: Combine salt, pepper, dried herbs, and spices and rub the mixture under the turkey skin, inside the cavity, and then over the skin. ...
  2. Compound better: Combine butter, salt, pepper, fresh chopped herbs, citrus zest, and other flavorings.
Nov 3, 2023

Can I eat ground turkey every day? ›

Your body can't store protein, so you need to consume it every day. As long as you don't eat too much turkey, it is a healthy way to get the protein you need. It's also a good source of beneficial vitamins and minerals like magnesium and niacin. Turkey is also an excellent source of selenium.

Is ground turkey actually healthy? ›

"Ground turkey contains less saturated fat than ground beef, giving it a more beneficial fat profile," says Beaver. "In its place, ground turkey instead contains more polyunsaturated fat, which is a protective, healthier type of fat."

How to cook ground turkey so it's not dry? ›

If the meat starts to dry out, add some broth to the skillet to keep it moist while cooking to avoid overcooked, dry ground turkey.

Do you oil pan before cooking ground turkey? ›

If cooking ground chicken, turkey or pork or lean ground beef, adding fat to the pan is important to be sure the meat does not stick to the pan as it cooks.

How long does it take to cook ground turkey? ›

See for yourself— microwaving ground turkey is simply faster, start to finish.
ApplianceCook Time
Microwave in an Anyday dish5 mins
Stovetop*10-15 mins
Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker)*15-20 mins

How long can cooked ground turkey last in the fridge? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth.

Why does ground turkey smell bad when cooking? ›

Signs Ground Turkey is Spoiled

While it's still fresh, ground turkey won't have much of an odor, but it will start smelling off-putting as soon as bacteria starts forming. Raw and cooked ground turkey start to develop odors when they go bad.

Is it OK to leave cooked ground turkey out overnight? ›

Havern explains: "The maximum amount of time perishable foods can [spend] in the danger zone is two hours. At two hours, the food must be consumed, stored correctly, or thrown away. This includes all cooked leftovers, [chopped] fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products."

Why does my ground turkey look grey? ›

But as any poultry starts to go bad, it will start to turn an unpleasant shade of gray. If that pink hue starts to look slightly dull then it's time to use up your ground turkey immediately, and if it has a gray tint (even just a slight one), then it's time to toss it.

How do you get the gamey taste out of ground turkey? ›

The distinct game flavor of either birds or animals will be milder after soaking the meat overnight in the refrigerator in either a salt or vinegar solution. 2. Vinegar solution - 1 cup per quart of cold water. Use enough solution to cover the game completely.

How to infuse a turkey with flavor? ›

What to Inject a Turkey With
  1. Basic Brine. Liquid: Chicken stock. ...
  2. Butter & Beer. Liquid: butter + beer. ...
  3. Herby Turkey. Liquid: butter + chicken stock. ...
  4. Italian. Liquid: chicken stock + olive oil + red wine vinegar. ...
  5. Spicy & Smoky. Liquid: butter +white wine + chicken stock + orange juice. ...
  6. Brown Sugar & Mustard.
Nov 1, 2021

How do you stuff a turkey for flavor? ›

Add halved onions, carrot chunks, celery and fresh herbs to the cavity of your turkey, inserting them loosely. These flavor builders are the base of stock and most soups. As your turkey cooks, they'll steam and infuse your bird with moisture and flavor.

What can you add to ground turkey to make it stick together? ›

Try adding some dry breadcrumbs to the turkey mixture before you shape the patties.

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