18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (2024)

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By Brittany Mullins

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Published Feb 14, 2023, Updated Nov 21, 2023

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Looking for ways to use ground turkey? Here are a variety of delicious healthy ground turkey recipes that are sure to be a hit!

Let’s talk turkey… ground turkey that is!

Ground turkey is a staple that we pretty much always have on hand. In general, I prefer to cook with ground turkey over ground beef because it’s a leaner protein and lower in saturated fat. Plus, it has a milder flavor, which makes it such a versatile protein that compliments a variety of meals nicely.

I do have one ground beef recipe on EBF (this no bean chili) and a handful of ground chicken recipes most of my ground meat recipes are turkey so I’m putting them all into one post so you can easily find them when you need them.

18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (2)

Ground Turkey vs. Ground Beef

Overall, ground turkey is a leaner meat than ground beef. If you’re using 99% lean ground turkey it will have fewer calories and fat than ground beef. If you’re comparing 93% ground turkey with 93% ground beef, the calories and fat are relatively the same, but ground turkey has less saturated fat. Saturated fat is something that’s good to limit because it can raise your LDL “bad” cholesterol and put you at higher risk for heart disease.

Ground Turkey Recipes

The great thing about ground turkey is that there are so many ways to use it! I’ve compiled my favorite ground turkey recipes below covering everything from burgers and casseroles to soups and salads.

18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (3)

4.68 from 28 votes

Turkey Burger

These juicy turkey burgers are made with ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce and a blend of seasonings. They're loaded with flavor and easy to make on the grill or stovetop.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (4)

4.47 from 62 votes

Spinach and Feta Turkey Burgers

These spinach and feta turkey burgers are quick and easy to prepare and taste delicious grilled and served on a bun with your favorite burger toppings.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (5)

4.66 from 23 votes

Spinach Turkey Meatballs

These simple clean eating Popeye turkey meatballs are moist andflavorful, loaded with veggies and require no binders! Meal prep a batch early in the week so you can add them to pasta, sandwiches, salads and more throughout the week!

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (6)

4.81 from 109 votes

Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili

Not your average chili, this butternut squash and turkey chili features red lentils and is simmered in a creamycoconut milk and tomato broth.It can be made in your pressure cooker or on the stove top!

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (7)

4.89 from 54 votes

Healthy Turkey Chili

This healthy turkey chili is made with kidney and black beans, corn, tomatoes and a blend of spices. It's the perfect meal to serve for game day or as an easy dinner!

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (8)

5 from 12 votes

Taco Soup

This easy taco soup recipe combines all your favorite taco ingredients in one pot – ground turkey, beans, corn, tomatoes and taco seasoning. It's packed with flavor and a hint of spice and is perfect for meal prep.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (9)

4.80 from 5 votes

Ground Turkey Tacos

These ground turkey tacos are juicy and packed with tons of flavor. They come together in about 20 minutes for a quick and easy weeknight meal that the whole family will love!

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (10)

4.34 from 30 votes

Turkey Stuffed Peppers

These turkey stuffed bell peppers are an easy and healthy weeknight meal loaded with ground turkey, brown rice, tomato sauce and spices. Serve with side salad for a veggie-packed meal.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (11)

4.38 from 101 votes

Turkey Eggplant Casserole

Comfort food made healthy, this cheesy eggplant casserole layers eggplant with protein-rich turkey and mozzarella. The best part? It bakes up in 30 minutes!

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (12)

4.66 from 29 votes

5-Ingredient Turkey Zucchini Boats

Healthy turkey zucchini boats that consist of 5 ingredients? Is this real life? Yes, yes it is. This dinner is comforting and so simple to make. Low-carb, paleo-friendly and gluten-free.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (13)

4.49 from 58 votes

Turkey Cauliflower Baked Ziti

This turkey cauliflower baked ziti uses cooked cauliflower instead of pasta noodles so it's low-carb and gluten-free while still being cheesy and delicious.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (14)

5 from 1 vote

Turkey Marinara over Zucchini Noodles

Use zucchini noodles instead of pasta for a low-cal, low-carb turkey marinara pasta dish. With only five ingredients and about 15 minutes of prep time, this is a fast, healthy and easy meal you can make any night of the week.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (15)

3.93 from 180 votes

Stuffed Pepper Casserole

This stuffed pepper casserole has all the delicious flavors of traditional stuffed peppers but is made in one pot for an easy weeknight meal. Loaded with ground turkey, brown rice, veggies, spices and topped with cheese. It's hearty, delicious and packed with flavor.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (16)

4.23 from 48 votes

Healthy Taco Salad

This healthy taco salad is made with ground turkey taco meat instead of beef and is packed with veggies. It comes together quickly making it perfect for a weeknight meal.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (17)

3.94 from 32 votes

Cheeseburger Salad

Enjoy all the flavor of a delicious burger, but make it low carb with a cheeseburger salad that's loaded with veggies and topped with a honey mustard dressing.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (18)

4.40 from 171 votes

Spaghetti Squash Taco Bake

This spaghetti squash taco bake combines low-carb spaghetti squash with ground turkey, taco seasoning, salsa and cheese for a delicious, healthy and easy dinner.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (19)

4.66 from 146 votes

Egg Roll in a Bowl

This egg roll in a bowl recipe is one of my favorite low carb meals. It's packed with protein and veggies, made in one skillet and comes together in less than 30 minutes!

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (20)

5 from 7 votes

Taco Zucchini Boats

Protein packed and dairy-free, these taco zucchini boats are perfect for a quick and easy healthy weeknight dinner.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (21)

4.49 from 31 votes

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

These unstuffed cabbage rolls taste just like the traditional recipe with a fraction of the effort. Packed with vegetables and flavor, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner.

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18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (22)

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5 from 1 vote

18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes + Turkey Stuffed Peppers

By: Brittany Mullins

Here you'll find 18 healthy ground turkey recipes as well as a recipe for turkey stuffed peppers.

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 bell peppers, any color
  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • ½ medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup cooked brown rice
  • 1 ⅓ cup tomato sauce, divided
  • cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  • Cook brown rice if you haven’t already.

  • Cut bell peppers in half, remove seeds and discard. Set aside.

  • In a large nonstick pan, brown ground turkey with chopped onions and garlic. Use a spatula to break ground turkey into small pieces while it cooks. It should be fully cooked after 7-8 minutes. Remove from heat and add rice, 1 cup tomato sauce (save remaining 1/3 cup for later), Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and cinnamon to the pan. Mix well.

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Add halved bell peppers to a 9×13 baking dish. If the peppers are leaning too much, you can trim the bottom of the pepper to help it lay flat in the pan without the stuffing falling out.

  • Stuff each bell pepper with about 1/2 cup of the turkey and rice mixture and top each with 1 Tablespoon tomato sauce and a sprinkle of shredded cheese. Carefully pour 1 cup water in between peppers in the bottom of the pan to help steam the peppers while baking.

  • Cover baking dish with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and place peppers back in the oven uncovered for about 5 minutes more, until cheese melts and peppers are soft. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 2pepper halves | Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 12g | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 9g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Lunch/Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: ground turkey recipes

Did you make this recipe?Mention @eatingbirdfood and tag #eatingbirdfood!

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About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

More about Brittany

18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (28)
18 Best Ground Turkey Recipes (2024)

FAQs

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 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!

Is ground turkey healthier than ground chicken? ›

We will also look at their vitamins and minerals. Both turkey and chicken provide the same amount of protein per serving and offer a rich protein source. Turkey has fewer calories due to the low-fat content. This makes turkey a good option for people monitoring their calorie and fat intake closely.

What does baking soda do to ground turkey? ›

Whether hosting a holiday cookout, serving up some stir-fry or tackling game meats, baking soda is the go-to meat tenderizer to help make your steak, chicken or turkey silkier, juicier and yummier.

How do you make ground turkey not taste bland? ›

Under-seasoning is one of the biggest mistakes people make with ground turkey. You'll find the meat bland and flavorless if you don't add a hefty serving of dried herbs and spices, as well as the unforgettable salt-and-pepper combo.

How do you make ground turkey taste more savory? ›

1. Give Ground Turkey a Savory Boost. To amp up the meat's flavor—but keep it versatile for a range of applications—we added chopped shallot and Worcestershire sauce. Both enhanced the meaty taste of the turkey, while Worcestershire sauce's pungent tang added balance.

What can I add to ground turkey to keep it moist? ›

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!

How do you 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.

What is the unhealthiest meat? ›

Processed meats, high-fat cuts of beef, fried chicken, deli meats, and lamb and mutton are among the top 5 unhealthiest meats to avoid.

Can I eat ground turkey every day? ›

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.

Which ground meat is the healthiest? ›

The Bottom Line

If you're eating for a healthy heart, lean ground turkey—which is lower in saturated fat—is the better pick for you. Of course, you can still enjoy ground beef from time to time, but choosing lean ground turkey more often will help your heart in the long run.

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

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 can I improve my turkey flavor? ›

Never pass up the opportunity to add flavor to turkey by stuffing the cavity with a simple aromatics mix. Fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage along with a half lemon go a long way to add flavor, and stuffing it into the bird takes almost no time at all.

How do you jazz up a pre cooked turkey? ›

No time to cook? No problem! Even if you buy a preroasted bird, you can still serve your guests a “homemade” Thanksgiving feast by doctoring up the turkey and the trimmings. Glaze a preroasted bird with olive oil and melted butter before reheating in a 375-degree oven for 15 minutes.

How to cook bland ground turkey? ›

If using a lean or extra lean ground turkey, add a splash of broth, tomato sauce, or olive oil while cooking. This helps prevent it from becoming too dry. If the turkey is not a lean cut, then adding liquid isn't needed. Ground turkey can be bland, so season it generously with herbs, spices, or sauces to add flavor.

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