Ground turkey is the ideal ingredient for easy, healthy weeknight meals. It can be used in a similar way to ground chicken or ground beef, and is an especially good choice if you're looking for a very lean protein source. Ground turkey is chewier and a bit saltier than ground beef, with a drier texture and less fat content, making it a great substitute.
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Ground turkey is cut from light and dark turkey meat which is ground up together. If it has more dark meat, there'll be a higher percentage of fat. On the other hand, more light meat will result in a leaner cut. Cooking ground turkey is almost identical to cooking ground beef. You'll know that the turkey is done when it is no longer pink and temperature registers at 165F.
Incredibly versatile and easy to spice up with some extra spices or veggies, ground turkey is a protein staple to add into your dinner rotation. These ground turkey recipes are the perfect way to use this healthy, variable ingredient.
Ground Turkey Spaghetti
Lyndsay Cordell
Spaghetti is a quick and easy meal that everyone loves. In place of ground beef, ground turkey makes this carb-heavy meal a bit leaner. Ground turkey acts as a blank canvas to absorb any flavor added to it.
This recipe uses umami seasoning, which gives a nice funk and depth of flavor to the turkey meat. Combine the meat with a semi-homemade marinara sauce for a delicious weeknight meal.
Check out the recipe here.
Cornbread Enchilada Skillet
Lyndsay Cordell
Casseroles are the ultimate comfort food. They're baked in one pan, relatively easy to put together and produce delicious end results. This recipe calls for ground beef for the filling, but ground turkey is a great substitute. The mild flavor of the turkey will pair wonderfully with the red enchilada sauce, gooey Monterey Jack cheese, and sweet cornbread.
Get the recipe here.
Hamburger Wraps
Hamburger wraps are a fun twist on the classic hamburger. Instead of using a bun, this recipe uses pita, tortillas, or lettuce to make fun wraps. To make this recipe healthier, swap in ground turkey for ground beef.
Season the ground turkey with salt and pepper, and mold it into a long patty (this shape is easier to wrap). Cook on a skillet or grill and top with cheddar cheese. Add toppings of your choice and enjoy. This is so flavorful you'll never know you substitute turkey for beef.
Get the recipe here.
Sloppy Joe Spaghetti Squash
This dish is perfect for when you're craving something hearty like sloppy joes, but want to lighten it up a tad. Spaghetti squash is the perfect substitute for a noodle. The inside shreds up into noodle-like strands.
The squash is the perfect vehicle to absorb all the flavors from the meat sauce. To keep this dish lower in fat, we use ground turkey instead of beef. The turkey is flavored with brown sugar, mustard, and chili powder for a sweet and tangy heat.
Get the recipe here.
Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers are a great dish when you need to feed a crowd. The best part of this recipe is the peppers can be stuffed with anything. A typical stuffed pepper is meat cooked with tomato sauce and stuffed into a bell pepper with rice and cheese.
This recipe calls for venison meat, but turkey is definitely a cheaper and more easily accessible option. The recipe is completely customizable so add in any spices that you may fancy.
Get the recipe here.
Southern Style Meatloaf
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Is there anything more classic and homey than a good meatloaf? Some meatloaf can be dry and flavorless, but not this one. Using Cajun seasoning brings some savory heat to the meat and adds some oomph to traditional meatloaf.
The recipe calls for ground beef, but ground turkey works equally well. Simply add in the turkey and combine with the rest of the ingredients. The cook time remains the same!
Get the recipe here.
Taco Pie
Lyndsay Cordell
This dish is exactly as the name implies. It's taco meat and fixings baked inside of a traditional pie crust. It's as easy to whip up as a traditional taco and is a great way to feed a crowd.
Ground turkey is a leaner meat, making it a good swap for lean beef. Once the turkey is cooked with taco seasoning, it's poured into the crust, topped with a cheese mixture, and baked. We like to serve it with some fresh tomato salsa on the side.
Get the recipe here.
Creamy Meatballs
Lyndsay Cordell
Meatballs are a staple to keep around for easy and quick meals. Not only do these taste amazing fresh, but they also hold up incredibly well in the freezer. This recipe uses ground beef, but ground turkey works great here.
The meat is combined with some unique spices like ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. The cream sauce, aka gravy, is made with beef stock and heavy cream, giving the meatballs a rich and creamy taste.
Get the recipe here.
