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

Anything beef can do, turkey can do better.

By Mackenzie Filson
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

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 (2024)

FAQs

How to make ground turkey more like ground beef? ›

How do I make ground turkey taste like beef? You can't, really, but you can get close. You do it by adding various umami ingredients, such as fried onions, mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and a bit of anchovy paste.

How is ground turkey better for you 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.

When not to cook ground turkey? ›

How to Tell If Ground Turkey Is Bad (Because Sometimes It's Not Obvious)
  1. Step 1: Check the Date. The USDA recommends cooking (or freezing) raw, ground turkey within one or two days after purchasing or the “sell by” date printed on the package. ...
  2. Step 2: Look for Changes in Color. ...
  3. Step 3: Smell the Turkey.
Apr 10, 2023

Is ground turkey a good substitute for beef? ›

With a similar texture, ground chicken or ground turkey can be superb substitutes for ground beef. The poultry is a bit paler than beef, which can change the appearance of some dishes, but they still taste equally delicious.

What can I 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.

What seasoning makes ground turkey taste like beef? ›

Ground turkey isn't as flavorful as ground beef, but if you want it to feel a little bit more like ground beef, try adding some Worcestershire sauce.

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

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.

Can you eat ground turkey every day? ›

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.

Why does ground turkey turn gray when cooked? ›

The reason that ground turkey turns grey when cooked is because the myoglobin in the meat reacts with the air and forms a compound called metmyoglobin. This compound is a dark red or purple color, but it turns grey when it is cooked because it loses its oxygen.

Why is my ground turkey GREY after freezing? ›

Once the meat turns a darker brown or has a gray color, it's a sign that it's starting to go bad. Ground turkey may have variations in color depending on differences in the animal, such as its age, breed, and diet.

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."

Why is my ground turkey rubbery? ›

Is turkey supposed to taste rubbery? Rubbery texture comes from cooking too long with too low a heat. Most land fowl like chicken, turkey, pigeon, guineafowl, peafowl, etc. are best when cooked hot and fast.

Is 85 ground turkey healthier than 85 ground beef? ›

Ground turkey would be considered the healthier option since it's lower in fat and calories. But if you choose a leaner cut of beef, like 93/7, there's very little difference between the two types of meat.

Do you drain ground turkey? ›

Most ground beef needs to be drained, so it's besy to drain after cooking. Turkey has less fat, so you are fine to season it while cooking. Thank you for the a2a! I season while cooking, I also cook in beef broth for more flavor.

Can you season ground turkey to taste like ground beef? ›

eHow recommends Worcestershire sauce, ground black pepper, sea salt, as well as pungent spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder. Just make sure you're adding more of these seasonings than the amount you'd typically add to ground beef.

What can I add to ground turkey to make it taste better? ›

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 do you increase the texture of ground turkey? ›

Ensure Pleasing Texture and Richer Taste

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.

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