16 Best Ground Turkey Recipes - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

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Updated on Mar 30, 2023

See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.

These ground turkey recipes are some of our best easy dinner ideas! They’re simple to make, healthy and so delicious!

16 Best Ground Turkey Recipes - Kristine's Kitchen (1)

Ground turkey is one of my favorite proteins to cook with because it’s so versatile. You can turn a pound of ground turkey into savory turkey meatballs, juicy turkey burgers or a comforting pot of turkey chili.

Compared to ground beef recipes, ground turkey recipes are typically leaner but still pack in just as much flavor. When you’re shopping at the grocery store, I recommend choosing ground turkey with a little fat in it for both moisture and flavor. I like to use 93% lean ground turkey. (99% lean tends to cook up too dry.)

The next time you’re wondering what to make with ground turkey, give one of these easy recipes a try. With recipes for pasta dinners, soups, meatloaf, stuffed peppers and more, there’s something for everyone in this collection of ground turkey recipes!

Best Ground Turkey Recipes

These classic dinner ideas are lightened up with ground turkey! Meatloaf, burgers, tacos and more, these ground turkey recipes are loaded with flavor and so satisfying.

Turkey Chili Recipe

Hearty, healthy, and packed with flavor, this healthy turkey chili is our all-time favorite chili recipe! This easy recipe includes directions for making the chili on the stove top, in the slow cooker or in the Instant Pot, so you can choose the cooking method that works best for you. Serve with a side of cornbread for a meal the whole family will love.

Turkey Meatloaf

This comfort food classic is lightened up but every bit as delicious as the original! This ground turkey meatloaf is exceptionally moist and flavorful. Serve it with mashed potatoes and green beans for Sunday dinner.

Like these recipes? Pin them to Pinterest!

Turkey Burger Recipe

No list of ground turkey recipes would be complete without an excellent turkey burger recipe. Juicy, flavorful turkey burgers for dinner? Yes, please! This easy recipe is a favorite year-round, since you can cook the burgers on the grill, on the stove or in the oven.

Ground Turkey Tacos

Need an easy weeknight dinner that’s ready in less than 30 minutes? Make these turkey tacos! With seasoned ground turkey, black beans, peppers and onions wrapped in warm tortillas, no one will be able to resist these healthy tacos.

Instant Pot Lasagna

Say hello to the best way to make lasagna on a weeknight: Instant Pot lasagna! It’s comforting, cheesy and so good made with either ground turkey or ground beef. Serve it with garlic bread and an Italian salad for a meal that will have everyone going back for seconds!

Easy Turkey Meatballs

These turkey meatballs are every bit as delicious as those made with ground beef, and healthier, too! They’re one of the best foods to meal prep for quick make-ahead meals. You can store baked meatballs in the freezer for up to 3 months or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Turkey Meatballs

These juicy turkey meatballs are one of our all-time favorite ground turkey recipes. They’re quick to make and just as flavorful as our ground beef meatball recipe. Serve them over pasta or zucchini noodles, or turn them into meatball subs.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

These turkey meatballs are made with fresh ginger, hoisin sauce and green onions and served with a simple 3 ingredient sweet and sour sauce. Serve them over rice or noodles, with sautéed veggies or a broccoli stir fry on the side.

Comforting Turkey Soups

When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing better than a steaming bowl of soup to warm you up! These turkey soup recipes are loaded with flavor and will make your kitchen smell amazing as they simmer on the stove.

Italian Wedding Soup

Here’s a perhaps unexpected ground turkey recipe for you: meatball soup! This hearty Italian wedding soup is filled with meatballs made with ground turkey and Italian sausage. It’s ultra comforting and flavorful, perfect for Sunday dinner!

Turkey Taco Soup

Here’s a 30 minute ground turkey recipe for you: Turkey Taco Soup! With taco seasoning, beans and corn, this full-flavored taco soup recipe is a family favorite. Serve it with tortilla chips or a side of cornbread.

Lasagna Soup

This lasagna soup is the ultimate comfort food. It’s made with ground turkey, whole wheat lasagna noodles and veggies for a soup that’s both nutritious and delicious. Enjoy it with a salad or homemade garlic knots for a complete meal.

Slow Cooker Recipes with Ground Turkey

These crockpot ground turkey recipes are here to save you time on busy evenings! Ground turkey adds lean protein to keep you full in these wholesome make ahead meals.

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Cooking this turkey chickpea chili in the crockpot allows the flavors plenty of time to develop, and it also means that come dinner time all you have to do is spoon this deliciousness into your bowl! This chili is loaded with veggies, protein, and just the right amount of spice.

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

This healthier baked ziti recipe features ground turkey and whole wheat pasta. The pasta cooks right in the slow cooker, so it soaks up the sauce and flavor. This is the best way to make comforting baked ziti on a weeknight!

Slow Cooker Turkey Lasagna

This healthy ground turkey lasagna is packed with sneaky veggies! Shredding and chopping the vegetables up small makes them hardly noticeable – perfect if you’re serving kids who squirm at the sight of too many veggies. Since you prep this dinner ahead in the slow cooker, it’s a favorite for busy nights.

More Healthy Ground Turkey Recipes

When you’re feeding a family, you can never have too many healthy dinner ideas. Add one of these ground turkey recipes to your meal plan this week. They’re quick to make and feature colorful veggies, too!

Stuffed Peppers

These stuffed bell peppers are made with rice, ground turkey or beef, tomato sauce and seasonings. They’re a healthy, delicious dinner that you can make ahead and freeze or bake right away.

BBQ Turkey Sloppy Joes

These turkey sloppy joes are packed with a bbq turkey and veggie sloppy joe mixture and served on toasted burger buns. Add some melty cheese and you’ve got a meal that will make the whole family happy!

Unstuffed Bell Pepper Skillet

This saucy bell pepper skillet is an easier take on classic stuffed peppers. This healthy one pot skillet dinner recipe is made with ground turkey, brown rice and, of course, bell peppers! A kid favorite, this hearty skillet dinner is gluten-free.

16 Best Ground Turkey Recipes - Kristine's Kitchen (18)

16 Best Ground Turkey Recipes

Servings: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 12 minutes mins

Total Time: 27 minutes mins

These ground turkey recipes are some of our best easy, healthy dinner ideas! Start with these homemade turkey meatballs. They're loaded with flavor and so easy to make. Serve them with spaghetti or make meatball sub sandwiches.

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Ingredients

  • avocado oil or canola oil, for greasing the baking sheet
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup very finely chopped yellow onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound ground turkey*

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450° F. Grease a rimmed baking sheet with avocado oil or canola oil.

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg, onion, garlic, panko, Parmesan cheese, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir with a fork to mix.

  • Add the ground turkey and mix until just combined.

  • Use your hands to shape the meat mixture into 1 ½-inch meatballs. Place on the greased baking sheet.

  • Bake meatballs for 10-14 minutes, until they are cooked through. Meatballs are done when they register 165° F in the center when measured with an instant read thermometer.

Notes

  • For best results, use ground turkey with a little bit of fat in it, such as 93% lean. Using 99% lean ground turkey may make the meatballs dry.
  • Baked meatballs may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Serving: 3meatballs, Calories: 136kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 21g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 73mg, Sodium: 390mg, Potassium: 297mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 128IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 69mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is an estimate.

Cuisine: American

Course: Main Course

Tried this recipe?Mention @kristines_kitchen on Instagram or tag #kristineskitchenblog.

16 Best Ground Turkey Recipes - Kristine's Kitchen (19)

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posted by Kristine Rosenblatt on Mar 28, 2023

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16 Best Ground Turkey Recipes - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

How do you make 99% lean ground turkey taste good? ›

Enhance Flavor with Seasonings

While ground turkey has a mild flavor, adding the right seasonings can make it truly delicious. Experiment with a variety of herbs and spices like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, or dried oregano. Don't be afraid to get creative and adjust the flavors to your liking!

How long can you keep ground turkey 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.

What is the best fat to add to ground turkey? ›

I opt for unsalted butter to have total control over the seasoning. Like with any recipe, it's all about balance, and it doesn't take much butter to make poultry burgers succulent. An easy ratio to remember is 2 tablespoons unsalted butter per 1 pound ground turkey or chicken.

What is the best ground turkey to eat? ›

Whether you're making ground turkey tacos, turkey burgers, or another family favorite, 99% fat-free ground turkey will be your go-to for lean, flavorful dishes.

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

The Turkey Seasoning:
  1. Chili powder.
  2. Ground cumin.
  3. Garlic powder.
  4. Onion powder.
  5. Paprika or dried oregano.
  6. Salt & Black Pepper.
  7. Optional: red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper or a little spice kick.
Sep 10, 2023

Is 93% lean ground turkey healthier than 93% lean ground beef? ›

Ground turkey would be considered the healthier option since it's lower in fat and calories. But if you choose a leaner cut of beef, like 93/7, there's very little difference between the two types of meat.

Can I eat 5 day old cooked ground turkey? ›

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

Can you eat ground turkey after 5 days in the fridge? ›

It is generally recommended to consume cooked ground turkey within 3-4 days if stored properly in the refrigerator. After 5 days, there is an increased risk of bacterial growth and potential foodborne illness. It is best to discard the ground turkey to ensure your safety.

Why does ground turkey turn gray when cooked? ›

The reason that ground turkey turns grey when cooked is because the myoglobin in the meat reacts with the air and forms a compound called metmyoglobin. This compound is a dark red or purple color, but it turns grey when it is cooked because it loses its oxygen.

Can I eat ground turkey everyday? ›

Protein is a macronutrient, which means that your body needs a lot of it. 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.

Is ground turkey bad for cholesterol? ›

Skinless, lean, and ground chicken or turkey breast are good low-cholesterol choices. 100g of lean cuts of turkey breast contain around 104mg of cholesterol. While this seems like a lot, it only has 3g of saturated fat. 100g of skinless chicken breast contains 73mg of cholesterol and 0.5g of saturated fat.

What can I add to ground turkey to make it taste like beef? ›

Mix together ground turkey, onion soup mix, and steak sauce in a large bowl. Shape into 4 patties. Heat a large skillet over medium heat; lightly coat with cooking spray. Cook patties in the hot skillet until cooked through, about 4 minutes per side.

How do you make ground turkey not taste bad? ›

Before you start cooking, be sure to season the ground turkey well with salt and pepper. Also consider including dried herbs and spices for additional flavor. If you're cooking meatballs or meatloaf, pinch off some of the seasoned mixture and cook it in a skillet to taste. Adjust seasoning accordingly.

Do you season ground turkey before cooking? ›

You may want to salt it just a bit while cooking, or better yet, cook some onions with it for a seasoning/flavor that won't go when drained. Most ground beef needs to be drained, so it's besy to drain after cooking. Turkey has less fat, so you are fine to season it while cooking.

What is the healthiest ground turkey to buy? ›

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.

How do you make ground turkey not taste bland? ›

Before you start cooking, be sure to season the ground turkey well with salt and pepper. Also consider including dried herbs and spices for additional flavor. If you're cooking meatballs or meatloaf, pinch off some of the seasoned mixture and cook it in a skillet to taste.

How do you make ground turkey not taste like turkey? ›

The exact seasonings you should use for ground turkey depends on how it's prepared. For meatballs and Italian-inspired recipes, you can't go wrong with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and oregano. If you're making a taco, lift the flavor of your ground turkey with ground cumin or taco seasoning.

Is 99 percent lean ground turkey healthy? ›

With 28g of protein, 1g of fat per serving, and only 120 calories, our 99% Fat-Free Ground Turkey Breast puts a healthy spin on your favorite recipes. From lasagna to burgers and tacos, Honeysuckle White® ground turkey is lean protein you can feel good about.

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