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

What can I add to ground turkey to make it taste like 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 ground turkey really healthier than 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.

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.

When not to cook ground turkey? ›

Look & Color

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.

How do you enhance ground turkey? ›

There are plenty of easy ground turkey recipes out there. But, you will always need spices like olive oil, kosher salt and pepper, chili powder, and garlic powder. You can add minced garlic, and freshly chopped onions and peppers, for an extra edge.

How do you make ground turkey taste more savory? ›

You could try adding some Worcestershire Sauce, or some smoked paprika, savory, chili powder. What are some ways to cook chicken breast or ground turkey so that it is not plain? After you brown the meat, use it in a recipe. Most recipes that work for ground beef will also work for ground turkey.

Is it okay to eat ground turkey everyday? ›

The bottom line is yes—it is okay to include ground turkey in your diet regularly, though as with any food, it's crucial to eat it in moderation and variety in your food choices. Eating a diverse range of nutrient sources helps ensure you obtain all of the essential nutrients needed for enhancing overall health.

What is the healthiest meat to eat? ›

Which Meat is the Healthiest?
  • Top overall: Lean cuts. ...
  • Lean cuts of Pork: ...
  • Healthiest: Skinless Turkey Meat. ...
  • Healthiest: Skinless Chicken Breast. ...
  • Healthiest: Flank, strip steak, and 95% lean ground beef. ...
  • Sources:

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.

Should you drain ground turkey? ›

You may want to salt it just a bit while cooking, or better yet, cook some onions with it for a seasoning/flavor that won't go when drained. 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!

What is the healthiest ground meat? ›

You will often hear ground sirloin called extra-lean ground beef. If you want to create a healthy menu and limit the saturated fat in your dishes, then ground sirloin is the best choice.

Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

Frozen Turkey

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

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 does ground turkey turn gray? ›

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.

How do you add flavor to turkey meat? ›

To add extra flavor and tenderness to your Thanksgiving turkey, try a basic brine or you could even go for a dry brine. Soaking the turkey in this saltwater mixture helps to tenderize the meat while adding flavor and moisture throughout the entire turkey.

Does ground turkey taste as good as ground beef? ›

Ground beef, especially fattier options, is described as flavorful and moist. Its high-fat content contributes to its juicy, savory taste, which intensifies when grilled or browned in a pan. On the other hand, ground turkey is usually considered a lean meat and has a milder, slightly gamey flavor compared to beef.

How to make ground chicken taste like beef? ›

Combining it with another ground meat like pork, beef or lamb, might seems like cheating, but it's a nice way to deliver fat and build meat-y flavor. Finely chopped bacon or sausage also works beautifully in ground chicken burgers or meatloaf.

How do you make 99% lean 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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