19 Ground Turkey Recipes for Healthy, Delicious Dinners

The Lean Meat Is Incredibly Versatile

Written by

Laurel Randolph

Updated 04/03/20

Serve the chili with cornbread and toppings. — The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Ground turkey is a healthy alternative to beef and can be used in a wide variety of ways to decrease your intake of red meat—plus, it tastes great! The lean poultry makes delicious chili, tacos, burgers, and oh-so-much more. Read on for a wide range of quick and easy recipes that use the versatile meat.

01 of 19

Turkey Tacos

The Spruce / Molly Watson

Change up taco night by swapping beef for ground turkey. The flavor is still great and we bet your family won't even notice the difference. The browned, spiced meat is a great filling for both soft or hard tacos that you can place out with a toppings bar of lettuce, cheeses, salsa, and more.
02 of 19

Turkey Meatballs Baked With Parmesan Cheese

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Making meatballs with a mix of white and dark meat turkey yields moist and flavorful results. Serve your turkey meatballs in spaghetti sauce or coat them in a soy glaze or barbecue sauce to serve as appetizers.
03 of 19

Ground Turkey Chili

Brian Hagiwara / Photolibrary / Getty Images

Ground turkey is especially good in chili, happily standing in for ground beef with a fraction of the fat. With all of the delicious seasonings and beans, you won't even notice. Serve topped with cheese, sour cream, green onions, or all three.
04 of 19

Basic Turkey Meatloaf

William Mahar / Getty Images

This moist and flavorful turkey meatloaf only requires a few ingredients and comes together quickly. While it bakes in the oven, put together a green salad and any other side dishes, like mashed potatoes.

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05 of 19

Classic Stuffed Peppers

Brian Macdonald / Photodisc / Getty Images

Stuffed peppers are a hearty meal that look great and taste great with minimal effort. Ground turkey works great here and any kind of cooked rice will do (make it even healthier by subbing in quinoa). Leftovers reheat well in the oven or microwave.
06 of 19

Honey Sriracha Meatballs

The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

Ground turkey is at the heart of this honey Sriracha meatball recipe. The meatballs are easy to make and freeze well, and the sauce is quick and flavorful. To accent the sweet and spicy combination of honey and Sriracha, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and ginger are used to give the sauce an amazing flavor. Though they're a nice appetizer, these meatballs are worthy of the dinner table when served over rice.
07 of 19

Ground Turkey Burritos With Refried Beans

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Burritos loaded with spiced ground turkey, refried beans, and cheese are sure to please the whole family for lunch or dinner. Serve with guacamole, sour cream, and more salsa.
08 of 19

Juicy Baked Turkey Burgers With Garlic

The Spruce

Baked in the oven, juicy turkey burgers are an easy and delicious weeknight meal. Breadcrumbs and an egg help the mixture form into patties and a little Creole seasoning and lime juice add a punch of flavor. Top with homemade salsa.

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09 of 19

Ground Turkey Stir-Fry

Anita Schecter

When it comes to an Asian stir-fry, ground turkey may not be the first protein you think of. But when cooked along with onion, garlic, and soy sauce, the dish becomes reminiscent of the well-known appetizer served in lettuce cups. The broccoli and red pepper add wonderful texture and color while turning the dish into a nutritious, complete meal.
10 of 19

Slow Cooker Vegetable and Ground Turkey Soup

Renee Comet / Getty Images

Perfect for a soup supper or lunch prep, this tomato-based turkey and veggie soup has lots of flavor thanks to bouillon and spices. Serve with crusty bread for dipping. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for a few days or in the freezer for a couple of months in an airtight container.
11 of 19

Instant Pot Turkey Chili

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Make turkey chili in a flash with a pressure cooker. A combination of hot peppers makes the end result especially flavorful and fire-roasted canned tomatoes add a little smokiness. If you don't have an Instant Pot, any pressure cooker or multi-cooker will work.
12 of 19

Spinach and Turkey Lasagna

Randy Mayor / Getty Images

Ground turkey and frozen spinach add protein and color to this super cheesy lasagna. Three varieties are layered with the turkey, spinach, tomato sauce, and noodles for a truly memorable meal. This recipe feeds a crowd, but leftovers are tasty, too if you're making for a smaller group.

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13 of 19

Blue Cheese Pizza

The Spruce / Pete Scherer

Ground turkey meat, two kinds of blue cheeses, bitter radicchio, and citrus marmalade make for an unusual and delectable pizza. Store-bought dough makes this blue cheese pizza quick and easy.
14 of 19

Homemade Turkey Sausage

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

For a lower fat version of pork sausage, substitute with turkey instead. It's way easier than it sounds—just combine ground meat with spices and fry up as patties for breakfast or cook crumbled for a pasta sauce or filling.
15 of 19

Slow Cooker Chunky Turkey Chili

Brian Hagiwara / Photolibrary / Getty Images

Use your slow cooker to make a tasty chili with almost no effort. While turkey keeps everything lean, this pot is certainly not lacking in chili flavor. Eat as is or use it to top nachos for an extra special treat. Leave out the olives if you're not a fan or serve them on the side as a topping.
16 of 19

Stuffed Mushrooms With Ground Turkey Stuffing

Adél Békefi / Getty Images

Mushrooms stuffed with ground turkey, water chestnuts, garlic, and parsley are an ideal paleo and gluten-free appetizer or side dish. If you're going gluten-free but not paleo, top with shaved Parmesan cheese for a salty kick.

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17 of 19

Quick Tomato Ragu Pasta Sauce

Sofie Delauw / Getty Images

This classic and simply delicious ragu sauce can be made with any ground meat, including turkey. Ground dark meat or a mix of white and dark works best for this recipe. Serve with spaghetti, ravioli, or your choice of pasta.
18 of 19

Crock Pot Turkey Meatloaf

Robert Reiff / StockFood Creative / Getty Images

Cooked gently in a slow cooker, this turkey meatloaf is guaranteed to be moist. Adjust the garlic and seasonings to your taste, swapping marjoram for oregano if you don't have any handy.
19 of 19

Turkey, Bacon, and Egg Skillet

Westend61 / Getty Images

High in protein, an egg skillet is a great use for ground turkey. Flavored with bacon and bell peppers, it's a meal in a pan. Serve for a hearty breakfast or with a salad for lunch or dinner. Even better, it's paleo and gluten-free, too.