20 Ground Turkey Recipes That Don't Skimp on Flavor (2024)

It's time we think of ground turkey as more than a lighter, leaner alternative to ground beef. Ground turkey brings as much meaty flavor to dishes as ground beef and bulks up recipes all the same. Plus, thanks to ground turkey's lower fat content, you can incorporate other tasty fats into your cooking (olive oil! cheese!) without it resulting in overly-greasy food. Read on for 20 of our most delicious ground turkey recipes.

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Mozzarella-Stuffed Pesto Turkey Meatballs

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20 Ground Turkey Recipes That Don't Skimp on Flavor (1)

Cutting into a melty mozzarella center makes meatballs all the more satisfying. And as if that's not enough, these meatballs contain pesto.

02of 20

Sheet Pan Turkey Chili with Cornbread "Dumplings"

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20 Ground Turkey Recipes That Don't Skimp on Flavor (2)

With dense, veggie-packed turkey chili and dollops of cornbread batter that bake to golden perfection, this one-pan meal tastes as incredible as it looks.

03of 20

Ground Turkey Noodle Bake

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20 Ground Turkey Recipes That Don't Skimp on Flavor (3)

This casserole sandwiches seasoned ground turkey between a thick topping of shredded mozzarella and egg noodles tossed with a cream cheese-based sauce.

04of 20

Apple-Tarragon Turkey Sloppy Joes

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"You'll get sweetness from the apples, a subtle hint of anise from the tarragon, and a burst of aromatic flavor from the cloves. Be adventuresome, step outside the box, and give it a try!" — lutzflcat

05of 20

Stuffed Orange Peppers

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Liquid smoke and Gouda cheese elevate classic stuffed peppers. Orange bell peppers deliver a subtle sweetness and pop of color.

  • The Best Side Dishes for Stuffed Peppers

06of 20

Easy Chili Cornbread Bake

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"Chili and cornbread go so well together, why not bake them in the same pan! I've been making this for years and my kids love it," Valerie Brunmeier says. "I use ground turkey, but ground beef could be substituted if preferred."

  • 15 Top-Rated Chili Recipes That Are Anything But Basic

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Thai-Style Turkey Burgers

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"Turkey burgers with coriander, ginger, and garlic to give a Thai flavor," says Tracy Mckerk. "This recipe can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free soy sauce and breadcrumbs. Can be served alone, or on a gluten-free or whole-wheat bun."

08of 20

Tasty Ground Turkey Tacos

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"My mom's beef tacos get a makeover with ground turkey," says Andrea Parker. "These are much healthier, easier, and faster because there is no grease to contend with and I think they just taste better."

  • 12 Skinny Tacos to Satisfy Your Tex-Mex Cravings

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Ground Turkey Kheema with Forbidden Rice

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Here's a lighter Indian main dish that doesn't use heavy cream. It's served with forbidden black rice. "The blend of spices is mild but tasty," says Smd. "The potatoes make it hearty comfort food. Combining all the spices before you start is the way to go."

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Healthy Shepherd's Pie with Cauliflower Mash

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"This shepherd's pie with cauliflower mash is a low-carb, healthier version of a great cold-weather dish," says Patty-DC. "Enjoy this satisfying meal with a little less guilt."

  • Our Top 10 Shepherd's Pie Recipes

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Easy Ground Turkey Lo Mein

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"This lo mein can be on the table in no time and is packed with flavor without having to use those fancy sauces," says bd.weld. "The excess liquid will be soaked up by the noodles. Top with sriracha sauce to taste."

12of 20

Spicy Bacon Cheeseburger Turkey Wraps

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"This ground turkey wrap recipe is one of my favorite recipes when I'm craving a burger but watching calories," says socforward88. "Top with your favorite condiments like mustard or ketchup."

13of 20

Cameron's Ground Turkey Salsa Ranchera for Tacos and Burritos

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"It doesn't get much easier than this — lean ground turkey and salsa ranchera combined and made in a pressure cooker such as Instant Pot," says bd.weld. "Perfect for tacos, burritos, or even a taco salad."

14of 20

Moroccan Breakfast Skillet

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20 Ground Turkey Recipes That Don't Skimp on Flavor (14)

Moroccan-inspired spices, Swiss chard, sweet potato, ground turkey, and breakfast sausage combine in this quick and easy breakfast skillet dish. Try it with an egg on top! "A very flavorful breakfast idea," says France C. "I used turkey breakfast sausage instead of pork, for a healthier option. A tasty combination of spices and it smells fantastic while cooking!"

15of 20

Turkey Pasta Sauce

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"Honestly, if I didn't know differently, I would think this was made with ground beef instead of ground turkey," says lutzflcat. "And this sauce breaks down really well nutritionally — love that! I liked the chunky texture, so I didn't bother to use the immersion blender to smooth it out."

16of 20

Japanese-Style Meatloaf

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"I adapted this from a korokke recipe I frequently use," says abslomrob. "Korokke is a Japanese fried croquette made with seasoned ground meat and mashed potato. I combined the seasoning used there with a standard meatloaf recipe to create this fun hybrid. I serve it with mashed potatoes and a spicy barbeque sauce."

  • 15 Memorable Meatloaf Recipes

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Turkey Meatloaf Burgers

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This recipe merges two-kid friendly foods into one meal, with ground turkey no less. You're welcome.

  • Quick and Easy Side Dishes for Burgers

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Asian Sesame Sweet-and-Sour Turkey Meatballs

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Maple syrup, nutty sesame oil, ketchup, mustard, and vinegar bring a well-rounded flavor to these Asian-inspired meatballs. Serve them over noodles or rice.

19of 20

Tim's Turkey Tortilla Soup

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This soup-er simple recipe takes just 10 minutes to prep and uses basic ingredients like chicken broth, olive oil, and lime. Picante sauce packs a punch of spice.

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Actually Delicious Buffalo Turkey Burgers

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20 Ground Turkey Recipes That Don't Skimp on Flavor (20)

Douse ground turkey, Panko bread crumbs, parsley, and an egg with Buffalo wing sauce to build these well-seasoned patties. Adjust the spice to your liking; Monterey Jack cheese

  • The Best Healthy Ground Turkey Recipes
  • See our entire collection of Ground Turkey Recipes.
20 Ground Turkey Recipes That Don't Skimp on 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.

What can I add to ground turkey for flavor? ›

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!

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.

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.

How to make turkey tastier? ›

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. Injecting with butter or apple juice will add flavor, moisture and help penetrate down into the meat, which will make the turkey more flavorful.

What is the best flavor for turkey? ›

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. (While you're at it, season the cavity with a good amount of salt and pepper.) Brining is an essential step to ensure a juicy bird.

How do you make ground turkey not taste like 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.

What to season turkey with? ›

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.

How to make ground turkey taste more like hamburger? ›

Ingredients
  1. 1 pound ground turkey.
  2. 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix.
  3. 2 tablespoons steak sauce.
  4. cooking spray.
  5. 4 hamburger buns.
May 9, 2023

How do you make ground turkey taste more beefy? ›

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.

How to make ground turkey more 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!

Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

Frozen Turkey

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

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."

How to make ground turkey better? ›

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

How to season ground turkey to taste like beef? ›

I usually add some spices and herbs that compliment the meat. Try adding some salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, maybe some rosemary. If you want to go with a bit of a spicier flavor try adding some cajun seasoning. Adding some white cheddar, mayo, cranberry sauce or even some gravy works great as well.

Why does my turkey stock taste bland? ›

Bland turkey stock can result from a variety of factors. It could mean that it was not simmered long enough for the flavors to fully develop, or that not enough turkey parts were used. Additionally, the lack of sufficient seasoning, such as salt, herbs, and vegetables, can also result in a bland taste.

Why is turkey meat bland? ›

The irony is that the reason modern turkeys are so tasteless is, in part, because of their unwieldy size. It is difficult to safely roast a turkey that weighs more than 20 pounds without overcooking it. Turkeys, unlike pig and beef, are lean.

Why is turkey flavorless? ›

“Why is Thanksgiving turkey so bland? Turkeys, unlike pig and beef, are lean. Without all that fat, cooking them long enough to safely heat the center of the bird bleeds the meat of its moisture and dries it out,” Isaac Eger, writer for Sarasota Magazine, said.

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