Ground Turkey Recipes are a good replacement for ground pork or ground beef, and they are also a great substitute for a lot of recipes.
Ground turkey is known to be the star of the Thanksgiving meal, but after the festive season, there are bound to be leftovers.
To avoid food waste, one can’t help but think, “What can I make with ground turkey?”
Anything that is made with ground red meat, it can be made with ground turkey.
With a variety of ingredients and incredible ground turkey ideas, each dish can be jam-packed with flavors.
Make-Ahead Lasagna Roll-Ups, Santa Fe Frito Pie, Zucchini Burgers With Green Onion And Cumin, and Taco Skillet are a few of my favorite recipes to make at home.
Try out these ground turkey recipes to expand your family dinner menu.
Check out number #34 for snacks your family – adults and kids alike, will both love!
1. Paleo Meatballs
One of the most simple ground turkey recipes is Paleo Turkey Meatballs.
It is led with protein and is gluten-free, dairy-free, and very delicious.
They are simple to make and you can make them ahead of time.
It does not matter if you are on the gluten-free or paleo diet, these turkey meatballs will please your entire family.
They are packed with flavor and since you are using ground turkey, your calorie count is leaner.
2. Grilled Jalapeño Pepper Jack Burgers
If you’re thinking about what to cook with ground turkey that is far from the usual, you can try the Grilled Jalapeño Pepper Jack Turkey Burgers.
The rich, savory, spicy flavors of jalapeño pepper plus melted cheese are just perfect for a dinner or an afternoon snack.
You can also prepare these burgers during a barbecue weekend or a weekend family dinner.
One bite and everyone will surely adore you!
If you want less heat, remember to use regular jack cheese and limit the use of the jalapeños.
3. Stuffed Zucchini Boats
The zucchini recipe is one that your entire family will surely enjoy.
These Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats are delicious, quick to make, easy to eat and can effectively quench your hunger.
You can even make the dish in so many different ways.
You can use some leftover tomato or pizza sauce.
You can also stuff some spinach in the mix too.
The dish is very versatile, and you will surely love the inspiration.
4. Low-Fat Bolognese
In just an hour, you can prepare a delicious pot of Low-Fat Turkey Bolognese that the entire family will enjoy.
Make sure to prepare all of your vegetables, everything needs to be chopped and thinly sliced.
5. Slow Cooker Chilli
One of the tasty things to make with ground turkey is Slow Cooker Turkey Chili.
This meal is very creamy and spicy.
The creaminess comes from refried beans, which are used as a thickener.
The chili also makes amazing leftovers.
It really does not need any garnish besides a squeeze of lime and some fresh cilantro.
To make this delicious meal, you need olive oil, diced onion, beef broth, and ground turkey.
Also, you will need canned diced tomatoes, black beans, and a can of refried beans.
6. Kibbe Kebabs
In case you are not familiar with Kibbe, it is a dish made of bulgur or rice and chopped meat that is common in the cuisines of Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan.
The best-known one is a torpedo-shaped croquette with a bulgur crust that is stuffed with rice and minced meat.
Usually, Kibbe is made with minced beef or lamb, but with Turkey Kibbe Kebabs, you can use ground turkey instead.
Other types of kibbe are shaped into balls or patties and can be baked or poached.
To add flavor, use olive oil, soy sauce, and a mixture of molasses.
7. Spiced Burger Patties
Looking for ground turkey ideas?
You don’t have to create complicated meals just to use ground turkey as you can experiment with a good ol’ burger.
Turkey meat is known to have less fat compared to beef and pork.
Also, ground turkey has such a mild flavor and the accompaniments served with the patties like tomatoes, red onion, pita bread, bell peppers, and Greek yogurt, are mild too.
The smoky flavors in the spices flutter over everything else, making this one of the best ideas for ground turkey.
It is a meal that your friends and family will ask you for again and again.
8. Hawaiian Sliders
Hawaiian Turkey Sliders with pineapple salsa and honey ginger glaze are little burgers that are so full of flavor that it gets a reaction when you take your first bite.
At first glance, you may think the burger is going to be all pineapple salsa taste.
Although it is not a bad thing, the honey-ginger puts these turkey sliders over the top.
You won’t know the glaze is on there until you bite into the soft and delicious roll and you are greeted with a sweet surprise.
These sliders are ideal for quick meals or snacks.
9. White And Black Bean Chilli
White and Black Bean Turkey Chili are hearty, flavorful, delicious, and full of protein.
This meal is ideal for lunch or dinner for the entire family.
This chili is also ideal for cold weather.
Use white and black beans in this chili, and the turkey keeps the chili light.
The vegetables and diced tomatoes that you add to the chili boost the flavor.
10. Sweet And Sour Meatballs
When it comes to ideas for ground turkey, you will never make a mistake with a classic meatball.
Meatballs are normally made with ground beef or pork, but if you are looking for a great alternative, then you can substitute beef or pork with turkey.
11. Make-Ahead Lasagna Roll-Ups
Lasagna is a great dish to make ahead of time and freeze.
You can also try these Make-Ahead Lasagna Roll-Ups over the weekend and put them into the fridge to eat later in the week.
12. Swedish Meatballs
Cold weather calls for comfort food.
The warm and cozy dishes are meant to warm your belly and your soul, especially during wintertime.
13. Meatloaf Wellington
This Turkey Meatloaf Wellington is wrapped in layers of buttery and flaky phyllo dough sheets and it delivers the comfort-food taste that everyone loves.
No one will guess that the meatloaf is home-cooked, and it is a lightened-up version of everyone’s favorite.
14. Zucchini Lasagna: Pizza Style
The Zucchini Lasagna: Pizza Style is a low-carb meal that combines two classic comfort foods into one tasty dinner.
It is gluten-free, only under 300 calories, and it is packed with protein thanks to the ground turkey substitute.
15. Quick And Easy Tender Meatballs
This Thai-Inspired ground turkey stir-fry with basil and peppers has exotic and strong flavors.
The Quick and Easy Tender Turkey Meatballs are very tasty, only take 5 minutes to create, and feature only the most basic pantry staples.
16. Mashed Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie
If you are a big fan of subbing cauliflower for white potatoes, then you can prepare Mashed Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie.
This meal is delicious and can be considered comfort food.
Originally, Shepherd’s Pie was made with ground beef and regular potatoes.
However, if you want to make a healthier and leaner switch, then you can use ground turkey.
17. Santa Fe Frito Pie
If you are longing for a Santa Fe Frito Pie, you can use ground turkey, add tomatoes, add beans, and less salt.
This new version has far less fat and it is packed with protein and fiber.
You can even create this with the latest Fritos flavor, Chili Cheese.
18. Taco Salad
Taco Salad is one of the most loved appetizers and with this new twist, your family might just want a salad for dinner every night.
It is bursting with fresh flavors and packed with hearty ingredients.
19. Rice Stuffed Peppers
If you’re a huge fan of stuffed peppers, then you will love Turkey and Rice Stuffed Peppers.
Stuffed peppers are very versatile and easy to make, and you can serve them the next day.
The possibilities are endless with stuffed peppers, and one of the recipes that you can try is one with ground turkey, rice, and spinach.
20. Low-Fat Pumpkin Pasta
Low-Fat Turkey Pumpkin Pasta is just the one-pot meal to satisfy a family of pumpkin lovers, without the added sugar.
Keep it creamy, bright, vibrant, and delicious.
21. Chili Mole With Red Beans And Raisins
Chili Mole with Red Beans and Raisins has a deep, rich, satisfying flavor with just enough heat to let you know you’re alive!
Your friends and family are definitely gonna love it.
The meal only takes 7 minutes to make and it can serve 3 to 4 people.
22. Sizzling Southwest Burgers
Ground turkey can be a great dinner alternative, especially if you know how to spice things up.
Sizzling Southwest Turkey Burgers is one of the most incredible southern ground turkey recipes that will help your next cook-out go from ordinary to extraordinary.
Bursting with flavor, and incredibly moist thanks to a couple of tablespoons of mayonnaise.
23. Quick Tomato Pasta Sauce
Quick Turkey-Tomato Pasta Sauce is a simple, nutritious, and delicious pasta sauce.
It’s very kid-friendly, and it is a great, quick, and easy dinner on a busy school night — or any night!
24. Spicy Leek And Asparagus Pizza
Spicy Turkey, Leek, And Asparagus Pizza consist of lightly crisp asparagus, spicy seasoned turkey with leeks, and fragrant truffle oil.
This gourmet combination of ingredients will elevate your average pizza night to the next level.
25. Sweet Potato-Shepherd’s Pie
There is various classic shepherd’s pie, each of which is tied to the original.
And there’s something so wonderfully comforting and rustic about this classic meal.
Sweet Potato-Turkey Shepherd’s Pie is a version made with low-fat ground turkey and sweet potato.
26. Spiced Burger Recipe
The trick to cooking a great Spiced Turkey Burger Recipe is adding lots of flavor to the meat.
Since turkey is naturally lean, it dries out when it grills and can end up tasting bland if you don’t spice it up.
27. Stove-Top Spiced Meatball Stew
In just an hour, on the stove-top, in one pan, this Stove-Top Spiced Turkey Meatball Stew is cooked to perfection.
It’s an ideal, scrumptious comfort food dinner for the cooler months.
The stew is ideal during the wintertime, and it is the perfect comfort food.
You can create a big batch and eat it through the weekend.
28. Thai Lettuce Wraps
Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps are a great way to jazz up ground turkey.
To prepare, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Then cook onions and garlic until they start to soften.
Add in ground turkey.
Using a wood spoon, break up the turkey.
Cook until it’s no longer pink and is fully cooked through about 8 to 10 minutes.
29. Meatball Sandwich Recipe
Turkey Meatball Sandwich Recipe is great for those who are looking for a healthy snack.
This entire meal can serve up to five people.
The turkey meatball can be eaten as is, or you can pair it with freshly made bread.
30. Bolognese Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Turkey Bolognese Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is a satisfying, nourishing dinner dish that is low-carb and easy to prepare!
Get your pasta or lasagna fix with this tasty dinner recipe!
31. Zucchini Burgers With Green Onion And Cumin
These Turkey And Zucchini Burgers With Green Onion And Cumin get their green personality from the blend of zucchini, green onions, mint, and cilantro.
They’re browned in a skillet and then finished off in the oven, which gives them great caramelization on the outside and helps ensure that they aren’t tough inside
32. Rosemary-Honey Meatballs
These turkey meatballs with honey and rosemary are the perfect, most delectable, bite-sized hors d’oeuvre for a cocktail party.
They’re also fun to serve as the main course for dinner — they can be served over mashed potatoes or pasta, with all sorts of tasty side
33. Yam Lasagna
There are hundreds of different ingredients and flavors that can go into a lasagna.
While this one was designed specifically for children, more “sophisticated” palates will love it, too.
Turkey Yam Lasagna isn’t too complex, and it offers a ton of sweetness and flavor.
34. Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes
Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes is a snack alternative that is ideal for children and even adults.
It is filled with vegetables but it does not affect the taste of the meal
35. Taco Skillet
If you love tacos with a side of rice, then Turkey Taco Skillet is perfect for you.
It takes 30 minutes to cook and it uses only one pot.
It takes less time to prepare and fewer dishes to do.
The bottom line
Ground turkey may seem like a seasonal type of meat, but with all of the incredible recipes out there, this is not the case anymore.
If you wish to make some changes to your eating habits, then you can switch to ground turkey.
It is packed with protein and it adds a different flavor to your meals.
35 EASY Ways To Cook Ground Turkey
Try out these 35 Easy Ground Turkey Recipes to expand your family dinner menu!
Ingredients
- Paleo Meatballs
- Grilled Jalapeño Pepper Jack Burgers
- Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Low-Fat Bolognese
- Slow Cooker Chilli
- Kibbe Kebabs
- Spiced Burger Patties
- Hawaiian Sliders
- White And Black Bean Chilli
- Sweet And Sour Meatballs
- Make-Ahead Lasagna Roll-Ups
- Swedish Meatballs
- Meatloaf Wellington
- Zucchini Lasagna: Pizza Style
- Quick And Easy Tender Meatballs
- Mashed Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie
- Santa Fe Frito Pie
- Taco Salad
- Rice Stuffed Peppers
- Low-Fat Pumpkin Pasta
- Chili Mole With Red Beans And Raisins
- Sizzling Southwest Burgers
- Quick Tomato Pasta Sauce
- Spicy Leek And Asparagus Pizza
- Sweet Potato-Shepherd's Pie
- Spiced Burger Recipe
- Stove-Top Spiced Meatball Stew
- Thai Lettuce Wraps
- Meatball Sandwich Recipe
- Bolognese Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
- Zucchini Burgers With Green Onion And Cumin
- Rosemary-Honey Meatballs
- Yam Lasagna
- Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes
- Taco Skillet
Instructions
- Find your favorite recipe from our Ground Turkey Recipes list.
- Gather all the ingredients needed.
- Start cooking and make us proud!