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.

Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!

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The Best Ground Turkey Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to make ground turkey more flavorful? ›

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.

What is the best ground turkey to eat? ›

JENNIE-O® All Natural* Lean Ground Turkey is the perfect choice when creating more nutritious versions of your family's favorite recipes. This turkey is all natural*, 93% lean, raised without antibiotics and has 170 calories and 22 grams of protein. Find this product in the refrigerated section of your grocery store.

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? ›

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.

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? ›

Try a combo of lime zest with cumin and coriander, or something more traditional like fresh parsley, sage and rosemary folded into the butter. Not only does this help season the bird, but it also makes the meat extra juicy.

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."

Is ground turkey healthier than chicken? ›

Both chicken and turkey provide healthy protein. Generally, chicken tends to be higher in vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid, and turkey tends to be lower in calories, fat, and sodium while having more zinc, niacin, and vitamin B12.

Should you marinate ground turkey? ›

Marinating ground turkey meat can infuse it with additional flavor. You can create a simple marinade using ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, and your choice of herbs and spices. Let the meat marinate for at least 30 minutes before cooking.

How do you keep ground turkey moist when cooking? ›

Even 93 percent lean ground turkey—often the fattiest preground turkey you can buy—can still taste too lean and can easily dry out during cooking. To temper those effects, we added 2 tablespoons of melted butter to the meat, along with a panade of milk and panko.

How to know if ground turkey is bad? ›

If the meat won't be used within a day or two, store it in the freezer and enjoy it within three to four months. If at any point, you notice discoloration, a foul smell or a slimy or tacky appearance to the ground turkey, do not consume it and throw it out.

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 will ground turkey last in the fridge? ›

You may store uncooked ground poultry in the refrigerator 1 to 2 days. After cooking, you may keep it 3 to 4 days. Frozen raw poultry is best used in 3 to 4 months; cooked ground poultry, 2 to 3 months.

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."

Which ground turkey is best? ›

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.

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 make turkey not bland? ›

Add flavor to a bland turkey.

Turkey needs to be generously seasoned. But if the meat is still under-seasoned after cooking, carve the turkey and place the slices on a serving platter. Sprinkle all over with sea salt and a few grinds of fresh black pepper. And be sure to properly season the gravy.

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

What can I add to ground turkey to make it less dry? ›

Mushrooms! Ground mushrooms to be exact. Trust me, with this juicy recipe, you will fall head over heels in love with ground turkey. Mushrooms add moisture, mouthfeel, and umami (beefy) flavor to the otherwise dry ground turkey.

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