Ground Turkey Recipes - PinkWhen (2024)

Get ready to spice up your meal routines because this article is your gateway to a world of delicious possibilities with ground turkey. We’re not talking about your run-of-the-mill turkey burgers (though those can be stellar too); we’re diving into a treasure trove of ground turkey recipes that’ll redefine your culinary expectations. From savory stir-fries that bring the sizzle to comforting chili that warms the soul, ground turkey is the versatile hero of the protein game. So, whether you’re a health-conscious chef, a busy parent looking for quick and tasty dinners, or just someone eager to shake up your kitchen routine, let’s roll up our sleeves, grab that skillet, and embark on a ground turkey gastronomic journey!

Instant Pot Turkey Quinoa Chili

Break out the Instant Pot for this wholesome, comforting Turkey Quinoa Chili. It’s packed with turkey, beans, quinoa and spices that will warm you up on a cold night. {gluten free}
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Turkey Quinoa Chili

Healthy Turkey Chili

This healthy chili is packed with protein and nutrients from lean ground turkey and sweet potatoes! It’s a satisfying meal perfect for any time of the year.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Turkey Chili

Cranberry Meatballs

These cranberry meatballs are made with moist homemade turkey meatballs coated in a deliciously sweet and tangy cranberry glaze.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Meatballs

25-Minute Healthy Mexican Pasta Bake

It only takes 25 minutes to bring this scrumptious Healthy Mexican Pasta Bake to the table. It’s easy, tasty, and even kind of healthy. Great for busy days.
Get the Recipe: 25-Minute Healthy Mexican Pasta Bake

The Best Turkey Meatloaf

This is my easy, tried and true recipe for Turkey Meatloaf – ground turkey, a few simple ingredients and loads of mushrooms!
Get the Recipe: The Best Turkey Meatloaf

Crockpot Buffalo Turkey Meatballs (Gluten Free, Whole30)

These Crockpot Buffalo Turkey Meatballs are a delicious and healthy twist on the classic buffalo chicken and are a tasty appetizer for football Sundays or any big game.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Buffalo Turkey Meatballs (Gluten Free, Whole30)

Turkey Meatballs Recipe (Air Fryer)

These Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs incorporate good fats like Greek yogurt and olive oil to ensure a juicy and flavorful result every time.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Meatballs Recipe (Air Fryer)

Bbq Meatballs (Made With Ground Turkey!)

Flavorfully spiced, tender and moist BBQ Meatballs are glazed with the ultimate homemade barbecue sauce with hints of spice, pineapple and molasses!
Get the Recipe: Bbq Meatballs (Made With Ground Turkey!)

Turkey and Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers (without Rice)

Turkey and Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers (without rice) feature a medley of turkey, quinoa, feta, and vegetables stuffed in bell peppers.
Get the Recipe: Turkey and Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers (without Rice)

Turkey, Corn, And Black Bean Chili (Video)

This easy turkey, corn, and black bean chili is ready in under an hour with just a handful of pantry staples! Make it on the stovetop or in the crock pot.
Get the Recipe: Turkey, Corn, And Black Bean Chili (Video)

Turkey Burger Salad

Looking for a ground turkey salad? This turkey burger salad with sun dried tomato dressing is for you. It’s a deluxe bunless burger in a bowl!
Get the Recipe: Turkey Burger Salad

Taco Cups With Ground Turkey

Taco Cups with ground turkey, salsa, taco seasoning and cheese are easy to make and work as a fun appetizer or main meal with rice or a salad!
Get the Recipe: Taco Cups With Ground Turkey

Slow Cooker Ground Turkey Vegetable Soup

This healthy slow cooker ground turkey vegetable soup is packed with flavor and veggies and is super delicious.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Ground Turkey Vegetable Soup

Ground Turkey Zucchini Lasagna Recipe {Low Carb}

This ground turkey zucchini lasagna is lighter than your classic lasagna but equally delicious! It’s so good, you won’t even miss the noodles!
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Zucchini Lasagna Recipe {Low Carb}

Copycat Panera Turkey Chili

Panera Turkey Chili is a favorite in our house! Filled with 10 different vegetables along with ground turkey – you will love every bite!
Get the Recipe: Copycat Panera Turkey Chili

Healthy Zucchini Turkey Burgers

These healthy zucchini turkey burgers makes a quick lunch or dinner, and are packed with delicious flavour. So easy and juicy!
Get the Recipe: Healthy Zucchini Turkey Burgers

Ground Turkey Pasta With Broccoli

Prepare this creamy Ground Turkey Pasta with Broccoli for cheesy comfort food your entire family will love! Made in one pot in 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Pasta With Broccoli

Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Need an easy, healthy lettuce wrap recipe? Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps with Quick Pickled Veggies is a low-carb dinner that’s loaded with flavor! Healthy and delicious with ground turkey and a savory dipping sauce.
Get the Recipe: Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Ground Turkey Pasta Recipe

This Ground Turkey Pasta Recipe is a super easy, cheesy, and flavorful weeknight dinner made with lean ground turkey and pasta smothered in a creamy tomato sauce.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Pasta Recipe

Korean Ground Turkey (Rice Bowls)

Ready in minutes, this skillet Korean Ground Turkey recipe is a flavor-packed dish that is perfect as a weeknight dinner or as a meal prep.
Get the Recipe: Korean Ground Turkey (Rice Bowls)

Pumpkin Turkey Chili

This rich, savory Pumpkin Turkey Chili is an easy 30-minute meal that allows you to enjoy the flavors of the season even on busy weeknights!
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Turkey Chili

Ground Turkey Tacos

Ground turkey tacos are the BEST and your family will love them. The meat is naturally gluten free, dairy free, low carb, and kid friendly!
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Tacos

Ground Turkey Teriyaki Stir Fry

This 25 minute, one pan ground turkey teriyaki stir fry is a versatile, easy dinner recipe with familiar flavors the whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Teriyaki Stir Fry

Easy Turkey Lentil Soup Recipe

This easy and hearty soup makes for a delicious weeknight meal, brimming with warm spices, turkey, lentils, and fresh herbs.
Get the Recipe: Easy Turkey Lentil Soup Recipe

Sloppy Joes With Ground Turkey Breast

Old fashioned Sloppy Joes are made healthier with lean ground turkey for the ultimate classic loose meat sandwiches from your childhood. No Manwich here.
Get the Recipe: Sloppy Joes With Ground Turkey Breast

Karen Kelly

Seasonal Cravings | + posts

Karen Kelly, a food and travel writer, is the founder of Seasonal Cravings. She is also a health coach certified by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.

FAQs

Can cooked ground turkey be a little pink? ›

The color of cooked meat and poultry is not always a sign of its degree of doneness. Only by using a meat thermometer can one accurately determine that a meat has reached a safe temperature. Turkey, fresh pork, ground beef or veal can remain pink even after cooking to temperatures of 160°F.

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How do you know when ground turkey is cooked enough? ›

It will be cooked when it is all browned evenly, juices run clear and when your thermometer is at least 165 degrees F.

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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.

Can you eat ground turkey medium rare? ›

Ground meat needs to reach 160°F internally — at least a doneness of medium. (Dishes prepared with ground turkey or chicken need to reach an internal temperature of 165°F.) If the fresh meat is a steak, roast or chop, then yes — medium-rare can be safe.

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What color is ground turkey when it goes bad? ›

Raw turkey meat should be light pink or beige, depending on the type of meat and its fat content. The meat color becomes dull as time passes, which is normal. However, if the meat has a brown, gray or yellow or green hue, you will want to part ways with it.

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What happens if ground turkey is undercooked? ›

The number of reported new illnesses has decreased, but people could continue to get sick. People can get a Salmonella infection from eating undercooked turkey or touching raw turkey, including packaged raw pet food. Always cook turkey thoroughly. Get CDC's tips to prevent foodborne illness from turkey.

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How do I make sure my turkey is fully cooked? ›

At what temperature is a turkey done? Check these places on your turkey and look for these temperatures: 180°F in thigh. 170°F in breast.

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How to season ground turkey to taste like hamburger? ›

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.

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What is the best fat to add to ground turkey? ›

Cook with a fat

Most ground turkey is “lean ground turkey”, meaning it has a low fat content. While it makes for a great leaner alternative when you're choosing meat, it also means it can be a little dry. Make sure to add a good source of cooking fat like olive oil or avocado oil.

How do you make ground turkey not taste bad? ›

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.

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Is it OK to leave cooked ground turkey out overnight? ›

The Two-Hour Rule

Havern explains: "The maximum amount of time perishable foods can [spend] in the danger zone is two hours. At two hours, the food must be consumed, stored correctly, or thrown away. This includes all cooked leftovers, [chopped] fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products."

How do you 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. 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.

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Why is my ground turkey GREY? ›

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.

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What color should cooked ground turkey be? ›

Turkey is cooked once the internal temperature reaches 165°F just like chicken. Testing this with ground meat, however, is nearly impossible with a meat thermometer. Using visual cues such as the meat turning a light gray/brown color with no pink remaining is a sign the turkey is fully cooked and safe to eat.

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Can turkey be pink in the fridge? ›

At high temperatures, it loses its ability to bind oxygen and turns pink. Over time, the pigment does regain its ability to bind oxygen, and the pink tinge fades. That is why the leftover meat in the refrigerator rarely seems to have this unseemly blush the next day.

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What color is cooked ground turkey breast? ›

Safely cooked poultry can vary in color from white to pink to tan. For safety when cooking poultry, use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature. For a whole chicken or turkey, check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.

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How long is cooked ground turkey good for? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth.

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