Stuck with ground turkey? No problem! Today, I’m sharing five tasty and healthy ground turkey recipes that you can easily make at home. I’ll guide you step by step through each recipe so you get it right every time.
5 Tasty & Healthy Ground Turkey Recipes
Ground turkey is a great choice for a quick and healthy dinner. It’s lean and versatile, fitting into many recipes. Here are some delicious ideas to try:
- Turkey Burgers — Juicy & Flavorful
- Refreshing Turkey Lettuce Wraps — Light & Satisfying!
- Turkey and Beef Meatloaf — Classic & Hearty
- White Chili — Creamy & Comforting
- Ground Turkey Enchilada Stir-Fry — Spicy & Satisfying
Let’s explore each recipe and make your dinner delicious and healthy!
1. Turkey Burgers
Craving burgers but want something lighter? These turkey burgers are your new go-to! They’re super easy to make and you can change them up every time. Add a zing with our homemade Meyer lemon-honey mustard and top with fresh lettuce and tomato.
Ingredients:
Meyer Lemon-Honey Mustard
- Dijon mustard
- Clover honey
- Fresh orange juice
- Lemon zest
- Fresh Meyer lemon juice
- Salt
- Black pepper
Burgers
- 90% lean, fresh ground turkey
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Goat cheese slices
- Sesame seed hamburger buns
- Watercress
Instructions:
- Make the mustard: Mix mustard, honey, orange juice, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
- Prepare the burgers: Heat your grill. Shape turkey into four patties. Season with salt and pepper. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side. Top with cheese during the last few minutes of cooking.
- Assemble the burgers: Place cooked burgers on buns. Drizzle with Meyer lemon-honey mustard. Add watercress. Serve extra mustard on the side.
Tip: If you can’t find Meyer lemons, use a mix of fresh orange and lemon juice.
2. Refreshing Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Want to grab a bite in a hurry but you also want it to be nutritious? It is great, fantastic or simply Superb… I recently came across with this turkey lettuce wraps. This is a very easy dish to prepare in a quarter of an hour. This tangy mixture is made with lean ground turkey, scallions, garlic, mushrooms, soy sauce, brown sugar, Rice Wine Vinegar all kneaded with rice.
Ingredients:
Filling:
- 12 ounces ground turkey
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 8 ounces white mushrooms, chopped
- 3 scallions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- One 6-ounce can water chestnuts, chopped
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
Drizzling Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or spicy mustard
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 8 to 12 large iceberg lettuce leaves, cleaned and dry
- Shredded carrots, for serving
- Bean sprouts, for serving
- Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
Instructions:
- Make the filling: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add turkey and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Add veggies: Stir in mushrooms, scallions, and garlic. Cook until softened.
- Create the flavor: Toss in water chestnuts, soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice wine vinegar. Bring to a simmer.
- Make the sauce: Combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
- Assemble the wraps: Fill lettuce leaves with warm turkey mixture. Top with shredded carrots, bean sprouts, and cilantro. Drizzle with sauce.
Tip: For a spicier kick, add a dash of red pepper flakes to the turkey filling.
3. Turkey and Beef Meatloaf
Turkey and Beef Meatloaf
Turkey and cranberries are a perfect pair. The sweet and tart cranberries balance the richness of meat perfectly. This recipe swaps beef for a healthier turkey base and uses cranberries in a tangy glaze. It’s one of the delicious and healthy turkey ground beef recipes!
Ingredients:
- Fresh or frozen cranberries
- Ketchup
- Honey
- Sriracha
- Dijon mustard
- Fresh rosemary
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Carrot
- Onion
- Ground beef
- Ground turkey
- Large egg
- Instant barley
- Worcestershire sauce
Instructions:
- Make the glaze: Combine cranberries, ketchup, honey, sriracha, water, and mustard in a pan. Let it simmer until thick and cranberries soften. Mash the mixture, stir in rosemary and salt, then let it cool.
- Prep the meat: Shred carrot and onion. Mix ground beef, turkey, egg, barley, Worcestershire, mustard, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Shape and bake: Pack the beef mixture into a loaf in a broiling pan. Paint the mixture over the salmon and brush with half of the glaze, and bake for 15 minutes. Brush with the rest of the glaze and bake until done, approximately 30–35 minutes.
Tip: To make the meatloaf tastier, mix small chopped garlic or onions to the mixture of the meats.
4. White Chili
Got a taste for a good chili but you’re looking for a change? Try this white chili! That is loaded with lean turkey and bursting with flavors. It has a good satisfaction from the coriander and cumin, just a little spicy from the poblanos. White beans and hominy make it more hearty and fantastic for our bodies.
Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Onion, diced
- Celery, diced
- Poblano peppers, seeded and diced
- Garlic, minced
- Ground white turkey
- Canned white beans, rinsed and drained
- Chicken broth
- Dried oregano
- Canned hominy, drained and rinsed
- Salt
- Nonfat Greek yogurt
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
Instructions:
- Sauté the veggies: In a large pot sauté olive oil on medium heat. Sauté onion, celery and poblanos. Stir for a few minutes until they are tender – about 8 minutes. Now add in the garlic, cumin, coriander and cayenne to the pan. Simmer for another 30 seconds and remove from heat as soon as the dish emits an aroma.
- Spice it up: There should be ground turkey, which should be added and stirred with a spoon. Sauté for a further 2 minutes until it loses its pink colour.
- Brown the turkey: Add ground turkey and cook, until no pink remains (about 2 minutes).
- Simmer the goodness: And then, add the white beans, the broth and then the oregano. Heat in portions and hardly mix before the stove, for about 25 minutes.
- Finishing touches: Combine hominy, salt and if you want more spiciness, ad more cayenne pepper. Boil partilay covered for another 10 mins.
- Serve it up: Pour the chili into the bowls. Serve the top of each serving of the dish with yogurt, chopped cilantro as well as a lime wedge.
Tip: Desire more of that wicked vegetables? If you’re using canned vegetables then add a can of diced tomatoes or chopped corn when you add the hominy.
5. Ground Turkey Enchilada Stir-Fry
This dish is a fun mix of stir-fry and enchilada flavors! You’ll enjoy the taste of enchilada sauce, black beans, and cilantro, but cooked up fast like a stir-fry. Skip the tortillas and cheese for a lighter, veggie-packed meal with butternut squash and broccoli.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup whole wheat couscous
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- Salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 cups butternut squash, diced
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added black beans
- 1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce
- 1/2 cup salsa
- Optional toppings: chopped cilantro, diced avocado, shredded cheese, lime juice
Instructions:
- Cook the couscous: Boil 1/2 cup water in a small pan. Stir in couscous, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- Cook the turkey: Brown the ground turkey in a large pan over medium heat, breaking it up with a spoon. Season with salt and pepper. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté the veggies: In the same pan, heat olive oil and cook butternut squash until softened. Add broccoli and cook until tender.
- Combine flavors: Return turkey to the pan with black beans, enchilada sauce, and salsa. Stir until everything is mixed well.
- Serve: Enjoy your stir-fry with couscous. Add your favorite toppings.
Tip: For extra flavor, add a pinch of chili powder or cumin to the turkey while browning.
Last Words
These healthy ground turkey recipes pack a protein punch and taste great. They’re easy to make and perfect for a quick and nutritious dinner. So why not try one tonight? Your taste buds—and your body—will thank you!
FAQs: Ground Turkey
Is ground turkey good for weight loss?
Lean ground turkey is good for consumption while trying to lose weight. It contains lesser fat content than ground beef, it can therefore be categorized as a lean meat. However, it is crucial to note that overall diet and exercise play the leading role in the process of weight loss.
Is eating ground turkey safe or advisable even on a daily basis?
Although ground turkey is the lean meat which is good for health but it is always good to take many types of foods. Eating a varied diet of the different proteins ensures that the human body gets every nutrient that it requires.
Which is healthier, turkey or chicken?
Turkey and chicken are both sources of protein, and can be prepared in a healthful manner. Turkey usually contains fewer calories and fat than chicken and is usually a richer source of certain B vitamins. Thus, both can be taken in moderation and in turn can be a part of a healthy diet.
