These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (2024)

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (1)

Ground meats may get a bad rap for being tasteless or limiting, but they're actually some of the most versatile ingredients you can find at your local grocery store, especially when it comes to ground turkey. The ingredient may seem boring, but it's a great base for many healthy dinner recipes that are also delicious. Whether you're looking for Thai lettuce cups or spaghetti and meatballs, a burger, or a bowl of chili to keep you warm on a cold night, there are ground turkey recipes for every palate and mood — even for the pickiest of eaters of your household. Ground turkey works as the base for any kind of dish or as the whole meal, making it an easy and great choice for any weeknight dinner. Not to mention, it's much more affordable than some of the other packed meats out there.

The best part about these ground turkey recipes, though? They're easy! They are ideal for 30-minute dinner plans, and you probably already have most of the ingredients you need for them lying around the kitchen or in your fridge. With these recipes, you will never have to wonder how to cook ground turkey again. Plus, they're instant crowd-pleasers, which guarantees that your loved ones will be asking for any one of these recipes on a weekly basis.

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1

Quick Pork Ragu with Ravioli

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Granted, this recipe may technically be with pork, but swap the pork for lean ground turkey for a lighter dinner option.

Get the Quick Pork Ragu with Ravioli recipe.

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2

Creamy Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower with Turkey Meatloaf

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Meatloaf may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if it's yours, you're going to love this recipe. It does take a bit of a time though, so you may want to take that into consideration before making it.

Get the Creamy Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower with Turkey Meatloaf recipe.

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3

Tuscan Turkey Burgers

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (5)

Put those "turkey isn't as juicy as beef" thoughts to bed with this delicious recipe, packed with Italian veggies and smoked mozzarella.

Get the Tuscan Turkey Burgers recipe.

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4

Meatball Lettuce Wraps

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Forget the pasta. Put a new spin on meatballs with these flavor-packed lettuce wraps. The garlic, mint, Asian fish sauce, and carrots will not disappoint.

Get the Meatball Lettuce Wraps recipe.

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5

Smothered Swiss Turkey Burger

This juicy turkey patty, topped with a mushroom-shallot mixture, and lots of Swiss cheese will forever change your mind about turkey burgers being bland.

Get the Smothered Swiss Turkey Burger recipe.

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6

Orecchiette with Sausage and Radicchio

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Though this recipe was originally made with sausage, you can easily replace it with ground turkey for a healthier yet still delicious option.

Get the Orecchiette with Sausage and Radicchio recipe.

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7

Turkey Chili With Wheat Berries and Beans

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This warm turkey chili will hit the spot on a cold night.

Get the Turkey Chili With Wheat Berries and Beans recipe.

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8

Turkey Meatball and Kale Soup

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This easy-to-make meal can be on the table in just 45 minutes. And if you decide to make these meatballs ahead of time (cook them for 10 minutes, cool, and freeze), dinner can be ready even quicker since all you'll have to do is defrost and let them simmer in the soup before serving.

Get the recipe for Turkey Meatball and Kale Soup.

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9

Thai Turkey Lettuce Cups

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This healthy, low-calorie meal is packed with tons of flavor thanks to zesty lime juice, cilantro, and cumin.

Get the recipe for Thai Turkey Lettuce Cups.

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10

Turkey Burgers and Slaw with Sweet Potato Chips

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Chili paste, soy sauce, and ginger bring some serious spice to these turkey patties.

Get the recipe for Turkey Burgers and Slaw with Sweet Potato Chips.

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11

Turkey Bolognese

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This rich recipe swaps out beef for leaner ground turkey, and high-calorie white pasta for fiber-rich whole-grain spaghetti.

Get the recipe for Turkey Bolognese.

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12

Turkey Meatball Gyro

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Go Greek with this easy dinner idea. Grill a variety of vegetables to add some freshness to the dinner.

Get the recipe for Turkey Meatball Gyro.

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13

Crispy Turkey Skillet Lasagna

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This lean take on lasagna is a hearty family meal — just don't count on having leftovers.

Get the recipe for Crispy Turkey Skillet Lasagna.

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14

Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes

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Classic sloppy joes get a healthy makeover you can feel good about digging into.

Get the recipe for Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes.

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15

Greek Turkey Burgers

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Looking for a healthy burger recipe? This one is super quick, easy to make, and packed with Mediterranean flavor.

Get the recipe for Greek Turkey Burgers.

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16

Turkey Meatballs

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Adding mushrooms, mustard, and other bold seasonings to the ground turkey mixture makes these meatballs way better than your standard beef recipe.

Get the recipe for Turkey Meatballs.

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17

Turkey Taco Cups

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Consider this a fun, healthy twist on taco night.

Get the recipe for Turkey Taco Cups.

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18

Quick Turkey Chili

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (30)

Ready in only 25 minutes and freezable for up to three months, this chili is a weeknight sanity saver.

Get the recipe for Quick Turkey Chili.

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19

Gingery Asian Noodle Salad with Turkey and Cucumbers

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (32)

There's no way anyone will call your salad boring when you show up with this Asian-inspired dish.

Get the recipe for Gingery Asian Noodle Salad with Turkey and Cucumbers.

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20

Pappardelle with Turkey Ragu

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (34)

Dry white wine adds zip to this rustic dish of pappardelle pasta tossed with ground turkey, rosemary, and marinara sauce.

Get the recipe for Pappardelle with Turkey Ragu.

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (2024)

FAQs

Why is ground turkey bad for you? ›

A USDA survey showed that the odds are better than one in four that your ground gobbler contains Listeria, Campylobacter, Clostridium, or some combination of the three. What's more, in a separate study by the FDA and the University of Maryland, 24 percent of the ground turkey sampled came back positive for Salmonella.

Is it bad to mix ground turkey and ground beef? ›

Of course you can! The question is would it be tasty? Ground turkey tends to be dry. I would use a slightly fattier ground beef to lend some fat to the ground turkey.

Is ground turkey really healthier than ground beef? ›

Ground beef and turkey are both nutritious meats that provide protein, fat, and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Turkey is generally lower in saturated fat than beef. As such, it may be a better choice for heart health. Fat-free turkey is also the lowest calorie option if you're interested in weight loss.

How can you make ground turkey taste like ground beef? ›

Whenever I made turkey burgers, I would dissolve some beef bouillon in a little water and add it to the turkey with a little canola oil, then season and form the patties. The bouillon gave it some flavor and the water and oil helped with moisture. Just make sure not to overcook.

Why is ground turkey bad for your heart? ›

A single serving of turkey can contain up to 80 milligrams of cholesterol, a waxy substance that can clog arteries and even lead to heart attack or stroke. Cholesterol is only found in animal products—it's not in plant-based foods. Consuming excess saturated fat can also increase cholesterol levels.

What is the most unhealthy meat to eat? ›

try to limit processed meat products such as sausages, salami, pâté and beefburgers, because these are generally high in fat – they are often high in salt, too.

Is ground turkey healthy to eat everyday? ›

Your body can't store protein, so you need to consume it every day. As long as you don't eat too much turkey, it is a healthy way to get the protein you need. It's also a good source of beneficial vitamins and minerals like magnesium and niacin. Turkey is also an excellent source of selenium.

Is ground turkey considered a Processed Meat? ›

Processed meats are any meats that aren't fresh. People typically think of processed meat as only referring to pork and beef, but this category can also include poultry (chicken, turkey, duck) and fish.

What is the healthiest meat for burgers? ›

If you choose beef, choose 90 percent lean or higher. Bison and venison are also leaner red meat choices. Poultry such as ground turkey or chicken can be higher in saturated fat and calories if dark meat and skin are used in the mix. If you choose to use ground chicken or turkey, look for breast only.

What is the healthiest meat to eat? ›

While meat can be a part of a healthy diet, not all sources are created equal. The leanest and healthiest meats to eat include poultry, pork, fish, and seafood. Eating a balanced diet is one of the keys to a healthy lifestyle, which means choosing various foods from different food groups, like proteins.

How do you make ground turkey taste better? ›

How do you add flavor to ground turkey? Turkey meat can be flavored with easy ingredients like kosher salt and pepper, bell peppers, garlic powder, and olive oil. If you're cooking meat, specifically turkey taco meat, hot sauce and enchilada sauce are your best mates.

Is 99 lean ground turkey healthy? ›

With 28g of protein and 1g of fat per serving, our 99% Fat-Free Ground Turkey Breast puts a healthy spin on your favorite recipes. From lasagna to burgers and tacos, Shady Brook Farms® ground turkey is lean protein you can feel good about.

Which ground turkey is best? ›

Whether you're making ground turkey tacos, turkey burgers, or another family favorite, 93% Lean Ground Turkey will be your go-to for lean, flavorful dishes.

Why use ground turkey instead of beef? ›

If you're eating for a healthy heart, lean ground turkey—which is lower in saturated fat—is the better pick for you. Of course, you can still enjoy ground beef from time to time, but choosing lean ground turkey more often will help your heart in the long run.

Can you cook ground turkey like ground beef? ›

Sure, in many recipes, but turkey is leaner, doesn't have a lot of flavor itself, and can easily dry out because you are often cooking to a higher temp than beef. You simply have to adjust your recipes to accommodate. Ans: Yes, you can use ground turkey instead of ground beef in many recipes.

When should you not eat ground turkey? ›

But as any poultry starts to go bad, it will start to turn an unpleasant shade of gray. If that pink hue starts to look slightly dull then it's time to use up your ground turkey immediately, and if it has a gray tint (even just a slight one), then it's time to toss it.

Is ground turkey a processed meat? ›

Doyle explains that these natural meats (including chicken and turkey) are still processed, and they're still made with nitrates. “They use natural sources of preservatives,” she says. “Many companies are using celery powder, celery juice or celery salt, which are high in nitrates.

Is ground turkey considered as processed meat? ›

Turkey and chicken are often recommended as healthy alternatives to red meat. But if they are preserved, they count as processed meats and are harmful.

Is it safe to eat ground turkey? ›

Raw ground turkey is generally safe to eat, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make certain that the turkey is not frozen or thawed. Second, consume only white meat; dark meat is more likely to contain bacteria. Finally, before eating the turkey, make sure it is thoroughly cooked.

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