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 to make ground turkey more flavorful? ›

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 make your own ground turkey? ›

Feed the turkey meat through the grinder, using a plunger or pusher to guide the meat through the blades. If you're using a food processor, work in small batches to ensure even grinding, pulsing the machine until the turkey reaches the desired consistency.

What is the best ground turkey to eat? ›

Whether you're making ground turkey tacos, turkey burgers, or another family favorite, 93% Lean 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.

Why does ground turkey taste bland? ›

Not seasoning the meat enough.

Leaner ratios of ground turkey are missing on the flavor boost from a higher fat content, so they need some extra help in the flavor department. Without a good sprinkle of salt and pepper (or any other herbs and spices), ground turkey cooks up bland and flavorless.

What do I put on my turkey for flavor? ›

Instead of filling your bird with stuffing, fill it with aromatics. (News flash: Cooking stuffing inside a turkey can be dangerous.) The basics, like onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage, help lend that traditional Thanksgiving flavor. Take your aromatics up a notch by adding halved lemons or oranges.

How do you make turkey not taste bland? ›

Add flavor to a bland turkey.

Turkey needs to be generously seasoned. But if the meat is still under-seasoned after cooking, carve the turkey and place the slices on a serving platter. Sprinkle all over with sea salt and a few grinds of fresh black pepper. And be sure to properly season the gravy.

How to 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 make ground turkey taste like hamburger meat? ›

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 hamburger? ›

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.

When to add seasoning to ground turkey? ›

First, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Then, add the ground turkey to the pan and cook for 5 minutes, breaking up the turkey as it cooks. When the turkey is no longer pink, reduce the heat to low, then add 1 ½ Tablespoons of the seasoning and stir to combine.

Is ground turkey actually healthy? ›

"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."

Can you marinate ground turkey? ›

However, you can marinate ground turkey for a turkey burger or turkey meatballs. What flavors go well with turkey? Since turkey meat makes an easy weeknight dinner recipe, it is best to throw in some brown sugar or maple syrup for a sweeter flavor. Or, pepper, sage, and lemon for a savory flavor.

Why does ground turkey smell weird? ›

Fresh raw ground turkey doesn't give off any smell. The meat is likely spoiled if you unwrap the package and smell an unpleasant odor, like a sour scent.

Why does ground turkey smell weird when cooking? ›

Signs Ground Turkey is Spoiled

While it's still fresh, ground turkey won't have much of an odor, but it will start smelling off-putting as soon as bacteria starts forming. Raw and cooked ground turkey start to develop odors when they go bad.

How to know ground turkey is bad? ›

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 to season ground turkey to 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.

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!

How do you make ground turkey not taste dry? ›

Ok, here's a game changing tip for you – add mushrooms when cooking ground turkey! This may sound odd, but it's a really nice addition, especially if you have lean ground turkey breast. The mushrooms add moisture and umami flavor to the ground turkey, which can otherwise end up on the dry side.

What can I add to ground turkey to make it less dry? ›

Mushrooms! Ground mushrooms to be exact. Trust me, with this juicy recipe, you will fall head over heels in love with ground turkey. Mushrooms add moisture, mouthfeel, and umami (beefy) flavor to the otherwise dry ground turkey.

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