12 Easy Recipes to Make With a Pound of Ground Turkey
Gobble up these flavorful dinner ideas.
If you’re more of a ground beef person, you might not usually give ground turkey recipes the time of day. But here’s the thing: Ground turkey is one of those lean, flexible proteins that you shouldn’t sleep on. It cooks up fast, absorbs seasonings really well, and is easy to find at your local supermarket. And these ground turkey recipes using one pound of meat are about to show you just how tasty it can be!
What makes ground turkey so versatile is that, like ground chicken, it’s an easy one-to-one swap with ground beef and ground pork in most recipes. If you’re newer to ground poultry, the key to swapping it for heartier meats is to season it really well, since its flavor is milder. (If you’re still on the fence, consider looking for something with a higher fat content like 85/15.)
But of course, there are plenty of one-pound ground turkey recipes that aren’t swaps at all. You’ll find recipes here from juicy burgers to hearty chilis that were developed for ground turkey, so you don’t have to stress about seasoning. But if you do want a leaner swap or just so happen to find a pound of ground turkey on sale, you’ll now have a dozen easy ways to cook it up and (ahem) gobble it down.
Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Think of this as your favorite burrito but stuffed in a veggie shell. The zesty filling is Southwest-inspired and features spiced-up ground turkey, corn, and black beans. Then top with all your favorite fixings like cheese and salsa.
Get the Stuffed Spaghetti Squash recipe.
BLT Turkey Burgers
Wait, a BLT and a turkey burger all in one? Yes! These burgers are also topped with creamy avocado for a ton of texture and flavor in every bite. Serve with sweet potato fries and dinner will be on the table in just 40 minutes.
Get Ree’s BLT Turkey Burgers recipe.
Turkey Quinoa Chili
This chili is hearty, cozy, and full of bold spices, but is also packed with good-for-you ingredients like lean turkey and filling quinoa. Add a squeeze of lime at the end and top with cheese and avocado for contrast.
Get Ree’s Turkey Quinoa Chili recipe.
Chipotle Bacon Turkey Sliders
These sliders might be small but they are big on flavor! They have a spicy chipotle kick and are topped with bacon, melty sharp cheddar cheese, and avocado mayo. Serve on everyone’s favorite sweet Hawaiian rolls.
Get the Chipotle Bacon Turkey Sliders recipe.
Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Swap out the ground beef in this recipe for ground turkey and no one will even notice because it’s so flavorful. This casserole version also hides extra veggies in the cheesy rice, ideal for those picky eaters.
Get Ree’s Stuffed Pepper Casserole recipe.
Taco Salad
This hearty salad takes all the best flavors, textures, and colors of a crunchy taco but gives it a healthier spin. Swapping out the ground beef for turkey makes it even leaner. Bonus: It’s ready in just 15 minutes.
Get the Taco Salad recipe.
Egg Roll in a Bowl
Here’s another 15-minute miracle. Swap the ground pork for turkey, and add ginger, cabbage, and a super flavorful sauce. It tastes just like a tasty egg roll without the deep-fried shell.
Get Ree’s Egg Roll in a Bowl recipe.
Cheeseburger Pie
Hello, comfort food! This casserole-style dinner has ground meat, lots of cheese, and a stir-together crust that gives you all the flavors of a cheeseburger in one slice. Then grab all your favorite burger toppings and chow down.
Get the Cheeseburger Pie recipe.
7-Layer Casserole
This is the type of meal that’s so flavorful, you don’t have to worry about swapping out the meat. It has layers of rice, beans, corn, seasoned meat, and cheese. Then top it with tomato, avocado, more cheese, and cilantro for added flavor and texture.
Get Ree’s 7-Layer Casserole recipe.
Baked Spaghetti
Think of this as a mashup of lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce. It’s easy to throw together on a weeknight thanks to jarred marinara. Ground turkey is such an easy swap for the beef here, too. It browns super fast.
Get Ree’s Baked Spaghetti recipe.
Stuffed Zucchini
When peak zucchini season hits, zucchini boats make the perfect summer dinner. This recipe calls for sausage, but you can use ground turkey. Want to make it taste similar? Add a little fennel and red pepper flakes.
Get the Stuffed Zucchini recipe.
Taco Stuffed Shells
Another way to enjoy Tex-Mex is this fun combination of traditional stuffed shells and tacos. Swap out the seasoned beef for turkey, add a ton of creamy cheese, and bake until bubbly and golden.
Get Ree’s Taco Stuffed Shells recipe.
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