Skip to content
If you are looking for some healthier, family-friendly meals, consider using ground turkey as the star ingredient. In many traditional recipes, it’s a lean, healthy protein that is a fantastic substitute for ground beef. It’s also highly versatile, adapting to many diverse cuisines and preparation methods. Ground turkey can be a great option for families looking to make healthier choices at mealtime without sacrificing satisfaction or flavor.
To help make incorporating lean proteins and wholesome ingredients into your diet easier, our team of foodies put together these top eight nutritious and delicious recipes featuring ground turkey. From family classics to familiar comfort recipes, these meals are easy, fun to prepare, and picky eater-approved!
Why Is Ground Turkey A Good Meal Choice?
Ground turkey is a great lean protein source and a much healthier alternative to ground beef. It is lower in calories and saturated fat and contains essential nutrients like protein, iron, and vitamin B12, which are necessary for maintaining muscle mass and supporting overall health.
It works as the perfect base for many different meals and absorbs flavors from spices and seasonings. Ground turkey is adaptable to support many different dietary preferences and can add a healthy dose of protein to health-conscious, low-carb meals like lettuce wraps and rice bowls or be used in comfort food dishes like casseroles and meat pies.
8 Delicious Ground Turkey Meal Ideas for the Whole Family
Ground turkey can be used in so many delicious, family-friendly recipes. The following eight ground turkey meals offer a wonderful balance of satisfying flavors and nutritious ingredients. Each can be customized to fit your dietary preferences while still reaping the benefits of incorporating this lean protein.
Tasty Turkey Taco Bowls
Try using ground turkey in Mexican-inspired taco bowls for a taste South of the border. Season the ground turkey and serve with fiber-rich black beans, brown rice, lettuce, salsa, and avocados. Top with Greek yogurt, a fantastic substitute for sour cream, for some added protein.
Healthy Meatballs With Sauce
Juicy turkey meatballs are always a crowd-pleasing, classic comfort food dish and work perfectly for meal prep when made in advance. Season them with fresh herbs, garlic, and some grated parmesan cheese. Serve them with a rich tomato sauce over whole-grain pasta, or swap the pasta for zucchini noodles to keep it lower carb.
Savory Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Ground turkey is a fantastic healthy substitute for ground beef in a traditional shepherd’s pie. Well-seasoned ground turkey is layered with carrots, peas, and corn and then topped with creamy mashed potatoes. For a lower-carb option, swap out the potatoes for mashed cauliflower and bake until golden. It’s a nutritious and well-balanced meal the whole family will love!
Quick Turkey Lettuce Wraps
For a lighter, low-calorie, and low-carb meal option, cook ground turkey with aromatic ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. Spoon the mixture into lettuce cups and add your favorite toppings like green onions, chopped peanuts, or shredded carrots. It’s packed with Asian-inspired flavors and is a quick, easy meal for a busy weeknight.
Comforting Turkey Pasta Bake
Let the oven do the work for you in this pasta bake dish. Combine ground turkey, your favorite pasta, blended cheese, and veggies, and bake until golden brown. This works well for meal prep and is also a filling and nutritious meal with lean protein, fiber, and fats.
Spicy Turkey Chili Bowl
Chili is an all-time family favorite and easy to customize. Try it with ground turkey, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and authentic chili spices to warm up on a cold day. It keeps well in the fridge and is often even better the next day once the flavors have melded.
Easy Turkey Rice Casserole
For easy cleanup, this one-dish casserole combines ground turkey, brown rice, mixed vegetables, and a lightly seasoned broth. Bake until the flavors come together for an easy, nutritious meal that’s ideal for a hectic weeknight.
Classic Turkey Burger Sliders
Enjoy this family classic with a healthier twist by swapping out turkey for beef. Season the patties with garlic and onion, and grill for a nice char-broil taste. Serve on whole wheat beans for more fiber, and top with lettuce, tomato, and avocado.
Side Dishes That Pair Well With Ground Turkey
Ground turkey is a versatile ingredient and pairs well with many side dishes. For nutritious and well-balanced meals, combine ground turkey with healthy fiber-rich foods and whole grains, especially when trying to gain muscle mass. Here are some of the top side dishes that are family-friendly.
Roasted Seasonal Vegetables
Various seasonal vegetables can be a great way to add color and more essential vitamins and minerals to your diet. Try roasting mixed vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, and zucchini with olive oil and herbs to bring out their natural sweetness and add vibrant colors to your plate.
Fluffy Brown Rice
Brown rice is a fiber-rich, nutritious grain that pairs well with many great ground turkey dishes. To add healthy whole grains, swap it out for white rice and try using it in stir-fries, casseroles, and turkey bowls.
Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are super vitamin-rich and a great source of healthy fiber. The natural sweetness pairs perfectly with the flavors of ground turkey. Mashed sweet potatoes provide a creamy, satisfying side dish for meals like turkey meatballs or shepherd’s pie.
Fresh Mediterranean Salad
A Mediterranean salad is the perfect side dish for heavier turkey dishes. Cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and feta cheese are tossed in a light olive oil dressing to create a refreshing side. Try it alongside a turkey falafel with tzatziki sauce.
Steamed Garlic Green Beans
Steamed green beans are a quick and easy side that is nutritious, low-calorie, and packed with nutrients. Steam them with a hint of garlic to give them the perfect flavor while maintaining their natural crisp texture.
How to Properly Store Ground Turkey Leftovers
To get the most out of your leftovers and meal prep, store cooked ground turkey appropriately. To prevent foodborne illnesses, cool the meat quickly and refrigerate or freeze it within two hours.
Store meals in airtight containers to prevent food spoilage and freezer burn. Here’s a simple guide to follow for safe food handling:
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container at 40°F or below for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in portioned containers or vacuum-sealed bags for up to 4 months at 0°F.
- Reheating: Warm leftovers to an internal temperature of 165°F before consuming.
Which Meal Delivery Services Offer Ground Turkey Meals?
Several quality meal kit services feature healthy recipes and lean ground turkey as a protein option. These delivery services can be a game changer, taking the time and hassle of meal planning and grocery shopping off your plate so you can enjoy fresh and nutritious home-cooked meals.
HelloFresh
HelloFresh is one of the most popular meal delivery services, especially for busy families. The recipes are quick and easy to prepare, with approachable techniques and familiar, satisfying flavors. The ingredients are high-quality and pre-portioned to make meal time easy and minimize waste.
You can also customize dietary preferences and family sizes to get the right number of portions each week from the huge rotating menu.
Some of our favorite ground turkey recipes include the Umami Ginger Turkey Bowls with Pickled Cucumber and Sriracha Crema, Italian-style Turkey & Zucchini Pomodoro Penne Bake with Mozzarella and Herbed Ricotta, and the Thai-Inspired Curry Turkey Noodle Soup with Bok Choy, Napa Cabbage, and Coconut Milk.
Home Chef
Home Chef is a great option for families looking for more gourmet-feeling meals with farm-fresh ingredients. They provide ground turkey meals with flexible serving sizes in meal kits, oven-ready options, and prepared microwaveable meals. You can usually swap proteins for ground turkey in your favorite recipes for a leaner protein choice.
We have enjoyed these top ground turkey meals from their rotating weekly menu: Sesame Ginger Turkey Stir Fry with Rice, Weeknight Turkey Penne with Peas and Parmesan, and the Turkey Burrito Skillet with Crispy Tortilla Strips.
Blue Apron
Blue Apron makes you feel like a gourmet chef with globally inspired authentic dishes often featuring unique seasonings and flavors. The meal kits are easy to follow with a few simple steps, and they can be a great way to learn new cooking techniques and expand your palate to new cuisines. They offer customizable meal kits or ready-made meals from their expansive weekly menu.
Some of the featured turkey recipes include the Turkey & Shawarma-Spiced Rice with Carrots and Lemon Labneh, Roasted Turkey & Brussels Sprouts with Mashed Potatoes and Sage Gravy, and the Mexican Turkey and Brown Rice Bowls with Roasted Carrots and Cotija Cheese.
How Long Does It Take to Prepare Ground Turkey Meals?
Ground turkey cooks relatively quickly and can be easily adapted to fit a busier weeknight schedule or meal prep days where you have more time to cook. Incorporate it into casseroles or pasta bakes when you want less cleanup and less active cooking time, or throw together rice bowls and stir-fries when you are short on time. Here’s a good general guideline to help plan cooking times:
- Quick meals (15-20 minutes): Lettuce wraps, taco bowls, and stir-fries.
- Medium (30-40 minutes): Burgers, pasta bakes, and casseroles.
- Longer (45-60 minutes): Shepherd’s pie, chili, and meal-prepping larger meals.
Bottom Line
Ground turkey can be a leaner, healthier alternative to ground beef in a variety of family-friendly recipes. From low-carb lettuce wraps to comforting casseroles, it provides a great source of protein and essential nutrients with fewer saturated fats.
Several meal kit companies offer some wonderful turkey recipes to simplify meal planning and prep for busy families.
Always cook ground turkey thoroughly and store it properly to prevent the risk of foodborne illness. Pair it with nutritious sides like whole grains and fresh vegetables for a well-rounded, balanced meal.
