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Ground turkey works harder than it gets credit for. Meatballs, stir-fries, bowls, pasta—it does it all, and does it well. Whether you’re here because you’re trying to eat a little lighter or just want to mix things up, these 25 ground turkey recipes for dinner will actually satisfy.
Ground turkey has a reputation problem. It’s the thing you buy when you’re trying to be good, and then you cook it, and it’s fine. Just fine. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right seasoning, sauce, and technique, it’s genuinely one of the most versatile things you can keep in your fridge. These X dinner recipes you can whip up for dinner are proof of that. No dry, sad turkey here. Just really good food that happens to be made with ground turkey.
Table of Contents
Is Ground Turkey Healthy?
You can find a detailed nutritional breakdown here, but in short, yes, ground turkey is genuinely good for you. It’s leaner than ground beef, lower in saturated fat, and high in protein, B vitamins, selenium, and zinc. Go for the 93% or 99% lean variety, and you’re getting a lot of nutritional value without having to think too hard about it.
Burgers & Tacos
Ground turkey in a bun, a crispy taco shell, a soft flour tortilla—it holds up in all of them.
Best Turkey Burger Recipe
The key to a fantastic burger is the patty, and this turkey burger has got it going on. It’s juicy, well-seasoned, and even a little smoky thanks to a special ingredient!
Instant Pot Sloppy Joes With Ground Turkey
Sloppy joes made with ground turkey are saucy, messy in the right way, and the kind of thing kids eat without complaint.
Instant Pot Tacos With Ground Turkey
Ground turkey tacos in the Instant Pot, ready in 10 minutes. Weeknight solved.
Tender Greek Turkey Burgers
Ground turkey mixed with garlic, kalamata olives, feta, and capers. Stack them with cucumbers, roasted red peppers, and tzatziki—that’s the obvious move, and the right one.
Spicy Chipotle Turkey Burritos
Chipotle turkey burritos. Spiced ground turkey, a few vegetables, a big soft flour tortilla. That’s the whole thing, and that’s exactly enough.
Soups & Chilis
Ground turkey in soup and chili is better than you think. Better than we’ve been giving it credit for.
Healthy Ground Turkey Chili
Ground turkey chili with beans, vegetables, and enough flavor that you forget you were ever skeptical about it.
Easy Instant Pot Turkey Chili
Instant Pot turkey chili that comes together fast enough to be a genuine weeknight option. No planning required.
White Bean Turkey Chili
White bean turkey chili—creamy, spiced, and notably tomato-free. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
Ground Turkey Soup
A one-pot ground turkey soup with carrots, celery, peas, white beans, tomatoes, and bacon — the kind of thing you make on a weeknight and are glad you have for the rest of the week.
Southwest Turkey & Quinoa Soup
Southwest turkey quinoa soup that is genuinely fast, genuinely healthy, and genuinely good. All three at once.
Creamy Ground Turkey Soup
A ground turkey soup that’s easy, fast, and actually flavorful. The kind of thing the whole family eats without negotiation.
Bowls & Stir-Fries
Ground turkey, vegetables, a good sauce. It works every time.
Easy Ground Turkey Stir-Fry With Cabbage
Ground turkey stir-fry with cabbage and an orange-ginger sauce that does exactly what you want a sauce to do. Bright, fast, weeknight.
Ground Turkey Rice Bowls
Ground turkey rice bowls with bang bang sauce—the sauce that takes something simple and makes it the reason everyone comes back for seconds. Seasoned turkey, rice, and toppings, done.
Asian Ground Turkey and Green Bean Stir Fry Recipe
Ground turkey and green bean stir fry in one pan, under 20 minutes, with an Asian-inspired sauce good enough that you stop thinking about takeout.
Greek Ground Turkey Bowls
This recipe pairs perfectly seasoned turkey, lemon-parsley rice, and sun-dried tomatoes alongside fresh veggies and a drizzle of tzatziki.
Pasta & Comfort Food
Ground turkey holds its own in anything saucy and cheesy. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Easy Ground Turkey Meatballs With Sauce
Tender, saucy ground turkey meatballs that work over pasta, stuffed into a hoagie, or pulled straight from the freezer on a night when you didn’t plan ahead.
Delicious Lasagna with Ground Turkey Meat Sauce
Lasagna layered with fresh mozzarella, creamy ricotta, and ground turkey. Hearty in the way lasagna should be.
Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce with Turkey
All the flavor of a long-simmered meat sauce in 40 minutes, thanks to the pressure cooker. Use it on fat chewy noodles or layer it into a lasagna—it holds up either way.
Creamy Tomato Instant Pot Pasta with Ground Turkey and Spinach
Creamy tomato pasta with ground turkey and spinach, made in the Instant Pot. Weeknight dinner for the fam, done!
Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls with Ground Turkey
All the flavor of stuffed cabbage rolls without the rolling. Skillet, ground turkey, cabbage, done.
Stuffed & Baked
Meatballs, enchiladas, stuffed mushrooms—the baked and stuffed category is where ground turkey really earns it.
Healthy Baked Turkey Meatballs With Hot Honey
Baked turkey meatballs with ginger, garlic, and a hot honey glaze that makes them super hard to stop eating.
Easy Stuffed Peppers With Ground Turkey
Stuffed peppers with ground turkey, vegetables, and enough cheese to make it feel worth it.
Turkey Meatloaf With Oats
Turkey meatloaf with oats, a good glaze, and none of the dryness you’re expecting. It actually holds up against the classic!
Ground Turkey Enchiladas
Ground turkey enchiladas with black beans, red enchilada sauce, and a lot of cheese. Make them ahead, feed everyone, no complaints.
Turkey Wild Rice Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Portobello mushrooms stuffed with wild rice, fresh herbs, and ground turkey, finished with pomegranate seeds. Festive without trying too hard.
Frequently Asked Questions
I get asked all the time: is ground turkey healthy? When put up against beef, ground turkey is leaner. Most people whose goal is to lose weight or increase heart health switch to ground turkey.
There are a ton of easy turkey recipes out there, and the possibilities are endless, as proven in this collection of dinner options. You can do anything from burgers to stir-fries to pasta sauces. Anything ground beef can do, ground turkey can do!
Proper seasoning is key, so don’t be shy. Always consider the flavor profile, too. If it’s an Asian-inspired dish, garlic and ginger are your friends. A burger? Liquid smoke is the ticket! And salt appropriately—my rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon of sea salt per pound of ground turkey.
Ground Turkey Chili + 24 More Ground Turkey Dinner Recipes
Ingredients
- 2 TBSP olive oil
- 1 lb ground turkey
- Pinch of sea salt and cracked pepper
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup chicken broth, You can add more later if you want a thinner chili
- 14 oz can of red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 14 oz can of black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes, juice included
- 2 TBSP tomato paste
- 4-6 TBSP taco seasoning or chili seasoning, I like using my homemade taco seasoning
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven.
- When the oil is warm, add the onions to the pot and let them simmer for 5-7 minutes or until they’ve softened. After that, add the garlic and let it simmer for 30 seconds.
- Transfer the ground turkey to the pot, then add the chopped bell peppers and taco seasoning. Sauté, stirring to distribute the seasoning. Break down the ground meat down into chunks as you go with a spatula or a ground meat chopper until it’s partially cooked.
- When the turkey is partially cooked, add the tomato paste, beans, peas, carrots, tomatoes, and broth. Stir everything well, then bring it to a low simmer. Partially cover the pot with a lid and let the chili simmer for about 15-20 minutes.
- After 15-20 minutes, check in on things. If the chili is thicker than you’d like, stir in some more broth. Give it a taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference. You can add more taco seasoning if you need, or more chili flakes if you'd like more of a kick.
- Serve with your favorite garnishes and sides! (See the blog post for side suggestions.)
The instant ground turkey with spinach sounds amazing!
Love love LOVE these delicious and healthy recipes! The Greek burger is calling my name!
They’re easy to make and super delicious. I especially enjoy the turkey lettuce wraps and turkey taco skillet. They’re perfect for a quick and healthy dinner option!
Great roundup of ground turkey recipes! I’ve already bookmarked two of them to add to my meal plan. I have some ground chicken that I need to use up that I think I’ll substitute for one of them. Thank you!
I love ground turkey so much, so thank you so much for this roundup! Bookmarked for next time I have ground turkey to use up.
I always have ground turkey in the freezer, so I’m so glad to have found this post! Can’t wait to try them all- especially the Instant Pot tacos!
Meatballs are a huge hit at our house- especially for the kiddos! We made your turkey meatballs with sauce and they were so flavorful and you can’t even tell that I used lean turkey. Love that recipe!! Can’t wait to try all of these!
My friends and I loved the turkey burgers! I’m pretty sure every is just going to be eating turkey burgers from now on!
Gosh! There are SO many great recipes here – bookmarking this to make several!
Pinning this so I don’t lose track of this great list. Thanks for SO many great ideas :)