We Have 18 Recipes for Ground Turkey That Are Easy and Full of Flavor (2024)

Turkey isn't just for Thanksgiving and to prove it, we compiled easy recipes that use ground turkey. With less fat than beef and less pricey than lamb, ground turkey is also fast-cooking and versatile.

Use ground turkey to lighten up a bowl of comforting chili, whip up some scrumptious meatballs, or fill dumplings or a savory pie. Whichever you choose, you'll end up with a simple satisfying meal that makes your weeknights easier.

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Turkey-Rosemary Bolognese

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This tasty pasta dish requires scant hands-on time, but the sauce simmers low and slow until it's rich and flavorful. The recipe calls for finely chopped cooked turkey meat, but cooked ground turkey works great, too. Don't forget to serve with a baguette for sopping up extra sauce!

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Turkey Lasagna Rolls

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What we love about this recipe is you can use cooked turkey in any form: ground, shredded, or diced. It's joined by other Thanksgiving stars—namely gravy, creamed spinach, and mashed potatoes—or whatever leftovers are in your fridge after the big meal. Add a jar of marinara sauce and sprinkle some cheese on top and you're good to go.

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Turkey-and-Rice Meatballs

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These tasty meatballs make a fast and easy weeknight meal, so make at least two batches: one for tonight and the other to freeze for later. This recipe pairs them with a crunchy kale-and-apple salad and a creamy lemony tahini dressing.

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Pasta With Turkey and Broccoli

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A quick sauté of ground turkey in a splash of olive oil with garlic, fennel seed, and red pepper flakes creates a pasta sauce that's every bit as savory and satisfying as many that require twice as much effort. Another trick? Streamline cooking and cleanup by cooking the broccoli in the same pot as your pasta.

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Smoky Turkey Chili

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While chili is usually made with ground beef, this healthier version calls for ground turkey, along with tomatillos, poblano peppers, and a pinch of cinnamon. Top this comforting dish—also packed with beans, corn, and sweet potato—with sour cream, sliced pickled jalapeños, and grated pepper jack cheese. Dinner is served!

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Turkey Burgers With Lime Mayo and Crispy Oven Fries

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This recipe uses ground turkey seasoned with garlic powder, oregano, and dried chilis to whip up flavorful burgers for the whole family. If you can handle even more deliciousness, top each with lime mayo and ripe avocado slices.

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Turkey Sloppy Joes With Coleslaw

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Ground turkey has a reputation for being too dry, but this recipe puts an end to that bad rap. A mix of tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire ensures this turkey sandwich is juicy and flavorful.

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Turkey-Barley Vegetable Soup

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Warm and satisfying yet light and healthful, this soup is a well-balanced meal in a bowl. For the perfect accompaniment, add a crusty loaf, a pan of cornbread, or fluffy homemade biscuits.

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Turkey Taco Salad

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For a lighter take on a classic taco, give this salad a whirl. Along with ground turkey, you'll find the usual taco components: beans, store-bought salsa, sour cream, and grated cheese. Sprinkle some tortilla chip pieces on top for a satisfying crunch.

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Grilled Turkey-Zucchini Burgers

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Dry turkey isn't a concern with these burgers thanks to moisture-packed zucchini. Garlic powder and cumin bring extra flavor to the patties, while a schmear of honey mustard and mayo adds irresistible creaminess.

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Turkey and Scallion Dumplings

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This recipe calls for leftover chopped cooked turkey, but ground turkey works great, too. Serve these dumplings with a simple tamari-based dipping sauce, or drop them into a miso broth for a satisfying meal. Either way, this dish is an easy copy of your favorite take-out appetizer.

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Ricotta Meatballs

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Combine ground turkey with ground beef for these easy-to-make meatballs that also include ricotta, bread crumbs, and grated Parmesan cheese. For a complete meal, serve over pasta, zucchini noodles, or polenta .

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Turkey-Pumpkin Chili

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This dish is the epitome of fall flavors—chili, pumpkin, and turkey—in a warm, nourishing bowl with a couple twists from traditional chili. It features cannellini beans (instead of pintos) and is seasoned with just coriander and paprika (instead of chili powder and cumin), but goes great with tortilla chips just the same.

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Turkey Burgers With Cajun Grilled Onions

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This recipe mixes ground turkey with grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese—resulting in a moister, juicier patty—as well as minced garlic and chili powder to kick up the flavor. Top with grilled onion slices and a sprinkle of your favorite Cajun seasoning to end the argument once and for all that turkey burgers are dry and flavorless.

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Turkey and Cheese Pupusas

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Ever tried pupusas? It's a Central American dumpling-like dish made with corn flour and filled with meat, cheese, or beans. This one is stuffed with mozzarella and cooked turkey, which can be ground, shredded, or chopped. Pan-fry them to a golden brown, top with salsa verde and sour cream, and you'll know why El Salvador adopted it as their national dish.

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Cauliflower Shepherd's Pie

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This light version of the British classic features ground turkey (instead of lamb or beef) and a mashed topping made of cauliflower (instead of potatoes). Another difference is it only takes 30 minutes to start to finish. Healthier and quicker: What's not to love?

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Sweet Potato and Turkey Tagine

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Sweet potato is a common ingredient in this North African staple, but turkey is an unconventional diversion. Whether you use chunks of leftover cooked turkey as the recipe suggests, or substitute with ⅔ to 1 pound of ground turkey, you'll get a hearty stew flavored with warm spices that goes great with couscous or rice.

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Green Chilaquiles

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The hardest part of this nacho-like Mexican dish is the decision-making: Snack, appetizer, or a meal? Shredded leftover turkey or browned ground turkey? Queso fresco, cotija, or feta cheese? Homemade chips and salsa or store-bought? Make it your own and crunch away!

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We Have 18 Recipes for Ground Turkey That Are Easy and Full of Flavor (2024)

FAQs

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. Adjust seasoning accordingly.

How do you flavor ground turkey? ›

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.

How do you make 99% 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!

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. Shady Brook Farms® turkeys are raised by independent farmers with no antibiotics ever, and with no added hormones or steroids.

What makes ground turkey taste good? ›

What is the best way to season ground turkey? With ground turkey, you need fresh aromatics to season it. Chopped yellow onions, scallions, cilantro, and red bell pepper all help add flavor.

How do you make ground turkey taste more savory? ›

You could try adding some Worcestershire Sauce, or some smoked paprika, savory, chili powder. What are some ways to cook chicken breast or ground turkey so that it is not plain? After you brown the meat, use it in a recipe. Most recipes that work for ground beef will also work for ground turkey.

How to season ground turkey to taste like hamburger? ›

Whenever I made turkey burgers, I would dissolve some beef bouillon in a little water and add it to the turkey with a little canola oil, then season and form the patties. The bouillon gave it some flavor and the water and oil helped with moisture. Just make sure not to overcook.

How to season a turkey for best flavor? ›

Stick with salt and pepper, put herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage to work, or take spicy Cajun seasoning for a spin for some kick. Whatever blend you choose, spread it all over the turkey—on top, underneath, between the body and wings and legs, under the skin, and even in the cavity of the bird.

What makes ground turkey juicy? ›

Mushrooms add moisture, mouthfeel, and umami (beefy) flavor to the otherwise dry ground turkey. When mushrooms are chopped up into little bits, they easily and evenly mix with ground turkey making the protein so tender and flavorful while also giving the dish a veggie boost. And we all love that!

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

All you have to do, is add 1 tablespoon of Kitchen Bouquet Browning & Seasoning Sauce per 1 pound of ground turkey. Then incorporate the Kitchen Bouquet into the meat. Now, this is to give the turkey the flavor of beef.

Is ground turkey healthier than ground beef? ›

Ground beef and turkey are both nutritious meats that provide protein, fat, and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Turkey is generally lower in saturated fat than beef. As such, it may be a better choice for heart health. Fat-free turkey is also the lowest calorie option if you're interested in weight loss.

How much baking soda do I add to ground turkey? ›

Wet Brining with Baking Soda to Tenderize Meat
  1. Step 1: Dissolve Baking Soda into water. Use 1 teaspoon of baking soda and ½ cup of water for every 12 ounces of meat.
  2. Step 2: Soak meat in solution for at least 15 minutes. ...
  3. Step 3: Remove meat and rinse thoroughly. ...
  4. Step 4: Cook as desired.

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.

Do you drain ground turkey? ›

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. Thank you for the a2a! I season while cooking, I also cook in beef broth for more flavor.

What does eating turkey do to your body? ›

Rich in Vitamins and Minerals

It contains vitamin B12, which helps support red blood cell formation, as well as zinc and iron, which help boost immunity. Turkey also provides a good dose of selenium, which has powerful antioxidant properties that help protect against disease.

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.

How to add beef flavor to ground turkey? ›

Ground turkey isn't as flavorful as ground beef, but if you want it to feel a little bit more like ground beef, try adding some Worcestershire sauce.

How do you make turkey not taste like turkey? ›

The most effective way to get seasoning into the meat of a turkey is to brine it. A basic brine is simply water, salt and sugar in the proper proportions. The salinity of the brine has to be within a certain range in order to be absorbed by the meat.

How do you fix bland turkey stock? ›

Make sure you season your turkey stock/broth with herbs (save your carrot tops from making Glazed Carrots), fresh parsley, herbs, peppercorns and bay leaf. If you add too much water, it can water down the stock making it bland (in this case, once you strain it, simmer it to reduce and intensify flavor).

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