These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (2024)

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (1)

Ground turkey is a lean protein that checks off all of the boxes: It's healthy, it's easy to cook, and it's filling. And, just like our favorite ground chicken recipes, these ground turkey recipes are both affordable and family-friendly, too. Here, you'll find creative new ways to use ground turkey in casserole recipes, soup recipes, and skillet dinners. Of course, if grilling recipes are what you’re after, the signature turkey burger is always a hit. We've included plenty of variations, including Ree Drummond's turkey bagel burger and her Greek-style turkey burger that's served in a pita.

Whether you're looking for a healthy dinner idea or just a quick 30-minute meal that your family will love, you can’t go wrong with these crowd-pleasing ground turkey recipes. In fact, ground turkey can do just about anything that ground beef recipes can do. You can use it as a base ingredient for pasta sauce, chili, and meatballs. Or, turn it into a filling for your favorite type of tacos. We even have a turkey lettuce wrap that’s both flavorful and carb-free—perfect for when you want to eat something a little lighter. But don’t get us wrong, these ground turkey recipes are still so satisfying—even a steak-loving cowboy would have to agree!

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

1

Taco Salad

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (2)

This satisfying salad is a great way to switch things up for Taco Tuesday! It's loaded with fun toppings like cheese, jalapeños, and seasoned ground taco meat. Swap out the beef for turkey to make it even healthier.

Get the Easy Taco Salad recipe.

SHOP BOWLS

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

2

Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (3)

Keep a batch of this easy turkey chili in your freezer at all times—it can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months. It's perfect for busy weeknights.

Get the Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

3

Lasagna Rollups

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (4)

Ree Drummond loves lasagna in all its forms—whether it's veggie, beef, or even turkey! She says you can easily sub ground turkey for the ground beef in this variation and if you're feeling extra daring, you can add diced pepperoni, too.

Get Ree's Lasagna Roll Ups recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

4

Turkey Swedish Meatballs with Cauliflower Mash

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (5)

Here's a healthier take on two comfort food favorites: meatballs and mashed potatoes! Instead of ground beef, the meatballs are made with ground turkey and instead of the potatoes, it's cauliflower!

Get Ree's Turkey Swedish Meatballs with Cauliflower Mash recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

5

Sloppy Joe Casserole

To upgrade this childhood classic, we're making the whole thing in a casserole. Try subbing the ground beef for ground turkey for another fun twist.

Get the Sloppy Joe Casserole recipe.

SHOP CASSEROLES

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

6

Black Bean Chili

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (7)

This chili recipe calls for both beans and ground turkey, so it's extra filling. Use a mixture of white and dark ground turkey meat to add even more flavor.

Get the Black Bean Chili recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

7

Spaghetti Sauce

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (8)

You can make this hearty sauce in advance and keep it in your freezer. It's just as delicious on spaghetti as it is on garlic bread, ravioli, or even pizza. Just swap the ground beef for ground turkey–it's so easy!

Get Ree's Spaghetti Sauce recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

8

Cowboy Casserole

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (9)

It doesn't matter if you use turkey or beef for this skillet dinner, it's really all about the crisp Tater Tot topping anyway!

Get the Cowboy Casserole recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

9

Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (10)

Use your favorite lettuce as the base here—romaine, iceberg and butter lettuce all work well. Then, pile each wrap high with spiced turkey, cilantro, pico de gallo, queso fresco, corn, and avocado. Your family will thank you.

Get Ree's Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

10

Turkey Burgers

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (11)

This back-pocket recipe is leaner than the traditional beef burger, but still incredibly flavorful. Pair with sweet potato fries to complete the meal.

Get the Turkey Burgers recipe.

SHOP GRILL TOOLS

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

11

Turkey Burger Soup

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (12)

You're looking at the ultimate crowd-pleasing, one-pot dinner! Plus, this soup tastes great with all sorts of veggies.

Get Ree's Turkey Burger Soup recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

12

Ranch Turkey Burgers with Bacon and Cheddar

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (13)

The best way to upgrade a turkey burger? Add a pretzel bun! A few pieces of crispy bacon certainly don't hurt, either.

Get Ree's Ranch Turkey Burgers with Bacon and Cheddar recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

13

Greek-Style Turkey Burgers

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (14)

Dollops of tzatziki and a smattering of feta add flavor to every bite of this Greek-style dish.

Get Ree's Greek-Style Turkey Burgers recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

14

Spicy Whiskey BBQ Sliders

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (15)

Decadent, drippy, diminutive, dreamy, and divine are just a few of the words we'd use to describe these out-of-this-world sliders.

Get Ree's Spicy Whiskey BBQ Sliders recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

15

Turkey Taco Skillet

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (16)

It's all the things you love about tacos—in a skillet! This is just the sort of one-pan recipe we love.

Get Ree's Turkey Taco Skillet recipe.

SHOP SKILLETS

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

16

Chipotle Bacon Turkey Sliders

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (17)

There's just something so fun about miniature food! Adobo sauce and homemade avocado mayo make these sliders even more enticing.

Get the Chipotle Bacon Turkey Sliders recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

17

Spaghetti Pie

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (18)

When you're tired of the same old dinner routine, whip this recipe up for a change. It's ground turkey mixed with onions, carrots, garlic, and crushed tomatoes, plus plenty of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

Get the Spaghetti Pie recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

18

Breakfast Sausage Patties

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (19)

Lean ground turkey is a perfectly acceptable alternative for these breakfast sausage patties. In fact, it'd lighten them up nicely!

Get the Breakfast Sausage Patties recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

19

Turkey Bagel Burger

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (20)

They key to these tasty burgers is to add plenty of delicious seasonings: not just salt and pepper, but also flavorful Worcestershire sauce! Egg yolk acts as a reliable binder.

Get Ree's Turkey Bagel Burger recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

20

Italian Meatloaf

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (21)

Use a combination of ground beef and ground turkey for this delicious meatloaf recipe. It'll become a family favorite in no time.

Get Ree's Italian Meatloaf recipe.

SHOP PLATES

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are Nice and Hearty for Dinner (2024)

FAQs

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

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. So too does the chili powder and minced garlic.

What is the best ground turkey to eat? ›

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. Find this product in the refrigerated section of your grocery store.

Is ground turkey healthier than beef? ›

"Ground turkey contains less saturated fat than ground beef, giving it a more beneficial fat profile," says Beaver. "In its place, ground turkey instead contains more polyunsaturated fat, which is a protective, healthier type of fat."

Is ground turkey healthier than chicken? ›

Both chicken and turkey provide healthy protein. Generally, chicken tends to be higher in vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid, and turkey tends to be lower in calories, fat, and sodium while having more zinc, niacin, and vitamin B12.

How to jazz up 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 ground turkey not 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.

Is Jennie O'ground turkey a processed meat? ›

JENNIE-O® Ground Turkey has 19 grams of protein, 180 calories, is gluten free and minimally processed with no artificial ingredients. Find this product in the refrigerated section of your grocery store.

Is Shady Brook a good turkey? ›

Moist and Flavorful

excellent flavor and moist. We usually buy Shady Brook ground turkey and sausages but our go to from now on for whole turkey is your brand. Thank you for this product and thank you to all the workers at Shady Brook!

How to cook ground turkey without drying it out? ›

How do you keep ground turkey from drying out? When storing, make sure its kept air tight. To keep it moist while cooking, you can either add a fat such as butter, or baste with a liquid like chicken stock.

Can I eat ground turkey every day? ›

The bottom line is yes—it is okay to include ground turkey in your diet regularly, though as with any food, it's crucial to eat it in moderation and variety in your food choices. Eating a diverse range of nutrient sources helps ensure you obtain all of the essential nutrients needed for enhancing overall health.

Is ground turkey good for weight loss? ›

Turkey. Turkey is another great lean meat option for contributing to weight loss. It's low in calories and provides many of the same nutrients as chicken. Ground turkey is one of the best choices for eating turkey to lose weight, simply because it's lean.

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 is the unhealthiest meat? ›

Least healthy meats

Processed Meats: Notably, there are over 200 types of cold cuts and processed meats. These include hot dogs, bologna, and Vienna sausages. Processed meat is often made of less healthy organs like the stomach, lips, and heart.

Do bodybuilders eat ground turkey? ›

Although beef is high in protein, turkey is also high in protein, which makes ground turkey meal prep for bodybuilding a popular thing for people looking to build a bit of muscle mass.

What is the healthiest meat to eat? ›

While meat can be a part of a healthy diet, not all sources are created equal. The leanest and healthiest meats to eat include poultry, pork, fish, and seafood. Eating a balanced diet is one of the keys to a healthy lifestyle, which means choosing various foods from different food groups, like proteins.

What can I put on my turkey to give it flavor? ›

When it comes to seasoning, salt and pepper are the right place to start. But you can expand upon these basics by using fall herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage, which are natural accompaniments for turkey. You can branch out further with your favorite seasoning blends.

How to season a turkey really good? ›

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 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 improve the texture of ground turkey? ›

Ensure Pleasing Texture and Richer Taste

Even 93 percent lean ground turkey—often the fattiest preground turkey you can buy—can still taste too lean and can easily dry out during cooking. To temper those effects, we added 2 tablespoons of melted butter to the meat, along with a panade of milk and panko.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Geoffrey Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 6490

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Geoffrey Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1997-03-23

Address: 74183 Thomas Course, Port Micheal, OK 55446-1529

Phone: +13408645881558

Job: Global Representative

Hobby: Sailing, Vehicle restoration, Rowing, Ghost hunting, Scrapbooking, Rugby, Board sports

Introduction: My name is Geoffrey Lueilwitz, I am a zealous, encouraging, sparkling, enchanting, graceful, faithful, nice person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.