40 Ground Turkey Recipes That Will Make You Forget About Beef (2024)

40 Ground Turkey Recipes That Will Make You Forget About Beef (1)

We're calling it—ground turkey is *the* protein of the moment. Who says turkey is only for Thanksgiving? Not us! Ground turkey is our all year favorite for adding lean protein to pasta, soups, burgers. And don't even get us started on swapping it in as a healthy alternative to ground beef, especially when it means we get to eat ground turkey Italian sloppy Joes, turkey feta stuffed meatballs, and bánh mì burgers.

Speaking of burgers, we love how delicious turkey burgers can be. When it comes to making a mean, lean turkey burger, we don't think you need to to cover up the fact that it's turkey, especially with our special hacks to help you achieve a supremely moist, flavorful patty. And you don't even have to grill out, simply turn on your oven and you'll be on your way to a killer baked turkey burger. After you try that, next on the menu are our recipes for Greek-stuffed turkey burgers, Italian turkey burgers, and Sriracha turkey burgers.

Ground turkey is also one of our favorite ways to make our all-time favorite comfort foods a bit lighter, like we did with our turkey meatloaf and turkey shepherd's pie. Personally, we think there's really nothing more comforting than a freshly baked pasta dish (or really any pasta ever), which is why we included our turkey lasagna, our baked penne alla vodka with turkey, and our spaghetti with turkey ragù here too.

Want even more lightened up, easy meals? Check out our favorite ground chicken recipes, our best ground pork recipes, and our top healthy dinners too.

1

Turkey Chili

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Beef chili may come to mind when you think of the classic, cozy meal, but turkey chili deserves its chance to shine. This easy recipe is full of warm spices and double the amount of beans for a thick, meaty chili that’s every bit as filling as the classic.

Get the Turkey Chili recipe.

2

Shawarma Stuffed Peppers

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Here at Delish, we love stuffed peppers, and we love shawarma. So we thought: What would happen if we combined these two crowd-pleasing classics into one delicious, mostly hands-off recipe? The resulting one-pan recipe is definitely a keeper.

Get the Shawarma Stuffed Peppers recipe.

3

Turkey Feta Meatballs

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These turkey feta meatballs are easy to make and can be served any way you like. We like these atop our lemon-yogurt spread, but feel free to get creative—meatball subs, , whatever you like.

Get the Turkey Feta Meatballs recipe.

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4

Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps

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No bread? No problem. Doubling up on romaine leaves ensures a mess-free lunch, sans the carbs. If you're looking for more lettuce cup recipes try these easy Thai chicken lettuce cups next!

Get the Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps recipe.

5

Turkey Burgers

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Turkey burgers are a summer cookout staple here at Delish, and are always a reliable option when you’re craving something lighter than a classic hamburger. While they can have a reputation for being dry and bland, made right, they’re anything but.

Get the Turkey Burgers recipe.

6

Turkey Zucchini Enchilada Casserole

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There are few things zucchini can't do, it seems. From grilled zucchini to zucchini soup and zucchini lattice lasagna, you can use it in so many different ways. Here, the beloved summer squash is even standing in for corn tortillas in this savory turkey zucchini enchilada casserole.

Get the Turkey Zucchini Enchilada Casserole recipe.

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7

Best-Ever Turkey Meatloaf

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Ground turkey recipes have a bad rep for being bland and boring. But this meatloaf is LOADED with flavor. How? Worcestershire garlic, rosemary, and thyme. Bonus: Not only is the glaze totally delicious, it's also only two ingredients, ketchup and brown sugar.

Get the Best-Ever Turkey Meatloaf recipe.

8

Turkey Shepherd's Pie

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When the weather outside is frightful, nothing satisfies our craving for comfort food quite like a good shepherd's pie. A traditional shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb or beef, but this turkey version is surprisingly light and SO easy to make.

Get the Turkey Shepherd's Pie recipe.

9

Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs

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With a sweet and tangy glaze made with cranberry sauce and thyme- and sage-speckled turkey meatballs, these are great for serving with toothpicks as an app or over fluffy mashed potatoes for a low-key dinner.

Get the Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs recipe.

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10

Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

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We love how you can stuff sweet potatoes with pretty much anything, but this recipe might be our fave. We took these into Tex-Mex territory with a combo of ground turkey, onion, carrots, tomatoes, and taco seasoning.

Get the Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes recipe.

11

Turkey Lasagna

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We love ground beef with all our heart, but every now and then, we need a break. Enter: this beautifully cheesy ground turkey recipe. It's got everything you love about a traditional lasagna, only you'll feel a little better after destroying a big slice.

Get the Turkey Lasagna recipe.

12

Spicy Turkey Sausage & Kale Chili

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While we love classic turkey chili, when we're looking to spice things up, we turn to this recipe. Spicy ground turkey, red bell peppers, cannellini beans, tomatoes, and kale all combine for a cozy soup that will warm you up all winter long.

Get the .

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13

Bánh Mì Turkey Burgers

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Craving a turkey burger that's anything but boring? This is the one for you. We took all of the classic flavors of a bánh mì sandwich (pickled vegetables, spicy mayo, cilantro) and combined them into one exciting burger.

Get the Bánh Mì Turkey Burgers recipe.

14

Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf

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These little meatloaves are exactly what we want to eat when we’re homesick, even if we never had meatloaf growing up. Maybe it’s the ketchup. Maybe it’s the brown sugar. Maybe it’s the tantalizing scent of a cozy meal made extra easy in our air fryer!

Get the Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf recipe.

15

Air Fryer Turkey Breakfast Sausage

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You’re gonna flip over the flavor of these homemade sausage patties. They’re just as delicious as the classic pork version but made with leaner ground turkey (and in your air fryer = less oil!). Serve these alongside some air fryer pancakes or French toast sticks for the easiest breakfast ever.

Get the Air Fryer Turkey Breakfast Sausage recipe.

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16

Spaghetti With Turkey Ragù

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You have no excuse to not make this stupid-easy ragù: Made with ground turkey, white wine, and crushed tomatoes, it's a flavor bomb.

Get the Spaghetti With Turkey Ragù recipe.

17

Baked Turkey Burgers

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These juicy turkey burgers are packed with flavor, thanks to soy sauce, garlic, scallions, and shallot. Baking the burgers removes the guesswork of knowing whether they're fully cooked too. Top these however you like (we love adding some richness to the lean turkey burger with some avocado and onion).

Get the Baked Turkey Burgers recipe.

18

Baked Penne Alla Vodka with Turkey

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Here we changed up classic penne alla vodka, and added in ground turkey. The result is a creamy baked pasta dish that satisfies every carb craving possible, with a little extra boost of protein.

Get the Baked Penne Alla Vodka with Turkey recipe.

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19

Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili

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Having a big bowl of chili ready at dinner with very minimal effort (and dishes) is what winter is all about. This turkey chili is both comforting and better-f0r-you, so grab your slow cooker and cozy on up.

Get the Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili recipe.

20

Instant Pot Thai Turkey Meatballs

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These turkey meatballs are the perfect dinner to get you back on track after a long string of late-night takeout. They're light, fresh, and full of flavor. Try them over rice noodles, a bed of greens, or some brown rice.

Get the Instant Pot Thai Turkey Meatballs recipe.

40 Ground Turkey Recipes That Will Make You Forget About Beef (23)

Mackenzie Filson

Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.

40 Ground Turkey Recipes That Will Make You Forget About Beef (2024)

FAQs

What can you add to ground turkey to make it taste like beef? ›

All you have to do, is add 1 tablespoon of Kitchen Bouquet Browning & Seasoning Sauce per 1 pound of ground turkey. Then incorporate the Kitchen Bouquet into the meat. Now, this is to give the turkey the flavor of beef.

Is ground turkey really healthier than ground beef? ›

"Ground turkey contains less saturated fat than ground beef, giving it a more beneficial fat profile," says Beaver. "In its place, ground turkey instead contains more polyunsaturated fat, which is a protective, healthier type of fat."

Can ground turkey replace ground beef? ›

Lean ground turkey is a super versatile protein that works well in lots of recipes. It can be used interchangeably with ground beef and won't dry out with some simple tricks.

Is ground turkey healthy to eat every day? ›

Turkey is healthy white meat overall, but all meats contain fat. One 3-ounce serving of turkey contains one gram of saturated fat. That's 6% of your recommended daily intake. To keep your fat intake from turkey at manageable levels, limit your portion size to the recommended single serving.

How to make turkey tastier? ›

Baste the turkey with fresh beer, wine or juice every hour. The natural sugars will help caramelize the outside of your turkey, giving it a nice crispy and flavorful skin. Injecting with butter or apple juice will add flavor, moisture and help penetrate down into the meat, which will make the turkey more flavorful.

What can I put in the turkey for best flavor? ›

Instead of filling your bird with stuffing, fill it with aromatics. (News flash: Cooking stuffing inside a turkey can be dangerous.) The basics, like onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage, help lend that traditional Thanksgiving flavor. Take your aromatics up a notch by adding halved lemons or oranges.

What is the healthiest ground meat to eat? ›

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.

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.

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.

Do you season ground turkey before cooking? ›

Before you start cooking, be sure to season the ground turkey well with salt and pepper. Also consider including dried herbs and spices for additional flavor. If you're cooking meatballs or meatloaf, pinch off some of the seasoned mixture and cook it in a skillet to taste. Adjust seasoning accordingly.

How to cook ground turkey so it's not dry? ›

To keep it moist while cooking, you can either add a fat such as butter, or baste with a liquid like chicken stock. How do you fix a dry turkey? If you've overcooked your turkey, the only way to make it more palatable is to add moisture to the meat.

How to tell if ground turkey is bad? ›

If the meat won't be used within a day or two, store it in the freezer and enjoy it within three to four months. If at any point, you notice discoloration, a foul smell or a slimy or tacky appearance to the ground turkey, do not consume it and throw it out.

Is ground turkey good for high blood pressure? ›

Research suggests that regularly eating turkey can help to reduce cholesterol levels and improve heart health by helping to regulate blood pressure levels in the body. This can lead to lower heart disease or stroke risk over time.

How to make ground turkey taste good? ›

What is the best way to season ground turkey? With ground turkey, you need fresh aromatics to season it. Chopped yellow onions, scallions, cilantro, and red bell pepper all help add flavor.

Is turkey anti-inflammatory? ›

Turkey helps reduce inflammation. Turkey is high in protein but can reduce inflammation. When people think of protein, they often think of red meat, but red meat can cause inflammation and is high in saturated fats. If you don't eat the turkey skin, turkey reduces inflammation and is low in saturated fats.

Can you add beef bouillon to ground turkey? ›

From that day forward, I have used 2 teaspoons beef bouillon for every one pound of ground turkey to infuse it with flavorful beefy goodness whether in tacos, soups, sauces etc. I can't wait for you to try it – you will be amazed at the results!

How do you make ground turkey not taste bland? ›

The Turkey Seasoning:
  1. Chili powder.
  2. Ground cumin.
  3. Garlic powder.
  4. Onion powder.
  5. Paprika or dried oregano.
  6. Salt & Black Pepper.
  7. Optional: red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper or a little spice kick.
Sep 10, 2023

How to infuse a turkey with flavor? ›

What to Inject a Turkey With
  1. Basic Brine. Liquid: Chicken stock. ...
  2. Butter & Beer. Liquid: butter + beer. ...
  3. Herby Turkey. Liquid: butter + chicken stock. ...
  4. Italian. Liquid: chicken stock + olive oil + red wine vinegar. ...
  5. Spicy & Smoky. Liquid: butter +white wine + chicken stock + orange juice. ...
  6. Brown Sugar & Mustard.
Nov 1, 2021

How to make 99 ground turkey taste good? ›

Enhance Flavor with Seasonings

While ground turkey has a mild flavor, adding the right seasonings can make it truly delicious. Experiment with a variety of herbs and spices like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, or dried oregano. Don't be afraid to get creative and adjust the flavors to your liking!

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