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

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (3)

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

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (4)

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

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (8)

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

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (11)

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

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (14)

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

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (18)

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

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (20)

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

These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef (26)

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

Is ground turkey a good alternative to ground beef? ›

The Bottom Line

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.

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.

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

Yes, it is actually a good combination. How can I mix ground turkey and ground beef and make the meat taste like all ground beef? Half of each will pretty much taste like ground beef.

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.

What is the healthiest meat to eat? ›

5 of the Healthiest Meats
  1. Sirloin Steak. Sirloin steak is both lean and flavorful – just 3 ounces packs about 25 grams of filling protein! ...
  2. Rotisserie Chicken & Turkey. The rotisserie cooking method helps maximize flavor without relying on unhealthy additives. ...
  3. Chicken Thigh. ...
  4. Pork Chop. ...
  5. Canned Fish.
Jan 6, 2020

Is ground turkey considered a 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 ground turkey good for you to Lose Weight? ›

Ground turkey is a great food choice for individuals looking to shed excess weight. It offers several health and nutritional benefits, including: High protein content: Ground turkey is an excellent source of lean protein — a crucial component of any weight loss diet.

Is ground turkey bad for cholesterol? ›

Skinless, lean, and ground chicken or turkey breast are good low-cholesterol choices. 100g of lean cuts of turkey breast contain around 104mg of cholesterol. While this seems like a lot, it only has 3g of saturated fat. 100g of skinless chicken breast contains 73mg of cholesterol and 0.5g of saturated fat.

What can I add to ground turkey to make it 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.

How do you cook ground turkey so it is moist? ›

Even 93 percent lean ground turkey—often the fattiest preground turkey you can buy—can still taste too lean and can easily dry out during cooking. To temper those effects, we added 2 tablespoons of melted butter to the meat, along with a panade of milk and panko.

How do you make ground turkey not taste dry? ›

To keep it moist while cooking, you can either add a fat such as butter, or baste with a liquid like chicken stock. Why are most people's turkeys so dry? My dad taught me the number one rule of cooking virtually any meat and it's held up well pretty much no matter what I've cooked: low and slow.

Can you cook ground turkey like beef? ›

Ground turkey cooks differently than ground beef

Though both are ground meats, that doesn't mean they cook the same way. Compared to ground beef, there isn't much room for error when cooking ground turkey, because it can easily dry out fast, lose flavor, and be reduced to a crumbly mess.

Which ground turkey is best? ›

Very lean ground turkey or ground turkey breast is ideal for use in chilies and sauces. For more flavorful and moist dishes, use the ground turkey with more fat. Recipes for burgers and meatloaf hold together better with the higher fat content ground turkey.

Can you over mix ground turkey? ›

Over handling of the meat can make your finished product tough. Use a soft touch and you can also keep your hands lightly oiled when forming and shaping. Lean ground turkey has a low fat content, so if it's cooked too long it gets dry very quickly and becomes crumbly and tends to lose its flavor.

What is the best substitute for beef? ›

The most popular meat alternatives are traditional substitutes which include foods like tofu, tempeh, seitan, lentils, beans, and chickpeas. Plant based meat emits 30%-90% less greenhouse gas than conventional meat.

What is a healthy substitute for ground beef? ›

Tofu is a terrific source of protein made from soybeans. It's a reliable alternative for ground beef, and you can substitute tofu for ground beef in most of the meat-based recipes you already know and love. Cooking firm-textured tofu begins with removing the water by placing a paper towel around it.

Does ground turkey produce grease? ›

Ground turkey, especially the lean cuts, have less fat compared to other ground meats, but they still contain some amount of fat and protein. As these ingredients cook and break down, they can release juices that float to the surface and create an "oily layer."

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.

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