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 I 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.

Can I eat ground turkey 2 days past use by date? ›

The USDA recommends cooking (or freezing) raw, ground turkey within one or two days after purchasing or the “sell by” date printed on the package. So if your best-laid plans for Tuesday night turkey burgers were forgotten until Saturday, it's unfortunately time to say goodbye.

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? ›

Cook with a fat

Most ground turkey is “lean ground turkey”, meaning it has a low fat content. While it makes for a great leaner alternative when you're choosing meat, it also means it can be a little dry. Make sure to add a good source of cooking fat like olive oil or avocado oil.

How to season a turkey for best flavor? ›

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

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.

Is it safe to eat 10 year old frozen meat? ›

Food that is stored in a freezer at zero degrees will be safe to eat indefinitely. However, if meat is frozen too long it may lose quality and taste. If you are unsure if meat is still fresh, you can determine this once it has been thawed.

Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

A whole turkey can be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months. Turkey pieces are best consumed within nine months.

Can you eat cooked ground turkey after 7 days? ›

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

How to know 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.

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."

What are the white spots on ground turkey? ›

The white dried patches indicate freezer burn. When meat and poultry have been frozen for an extended period of time or have not been wrapped and sealed properly, this will occur. The product remains safe to eat, but the areas with freezer burn will be dried out and tasteless and can be trimmed away if desired.

How to jazz up 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. So too does the chili powder and minced garlic.

When to add seasoning to ground turkey? ›

As soon as your ground turkey has some nice color to it, you'll want to add in all the spices - that would be your garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, dried oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper - plus the two tablespoons of water or enchilada sauce.

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.

Why does ground turkey taste bland? ›

ButcherBox notes that ground turkey tends to run a bit leaner than ground chicken too. Because of its leanness, ground turkey has a reputation for being a bland ground protein.

How do you get the best flavor out of a turkey? ›

Season the outside with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and other seasonings that you enjoy. Baste the turkey with fresh beer, wine or juice every hour. The natural sugars will help caramelize the outside of your turkey, giving it a nice crispy and flavorful skin.

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

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