15 Ground Turkey Dinner Recipes

Lean, affordable, and endlessly versatile, ground turkey is the weeknight hero your dinner rotation needs. These fifteen recipes turn it into tacos, skillets, soups, and casseroles the whole family will ask for again.

Below you’ll find 15 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Turkey Taco Skillet

All your favorite taco flavors in one sizzling 20-minute skillet.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 8 flour tortillas
• Toppings: cheese, lettuce, sour cream

Instructions

1. Brown the ground turkey in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic; cook 4 minutes until softened.
3. Stir in the taco seasoning and salsa.
4. Simmer 5 minutes until thick and saucy.
5. Warm the tortillas alongside.
6. Serve the turkey in tortillas with your favorite toppings.

2. Turkey Meatball Spaghetti

Tender Italian turkey meatballs over twirled spaghetti with marinara.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 8 oz spaghetti
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup Parmesan
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Fresh basil, for serving

Instructions

1. Mix the turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning.
2. Roll into 16 meatballs.
3. Brown the meatballs in a skillet over medium heat for 8 minutes.
4. Pour in the marinara and simmer 10 minutes.
5. Cook the spaghetti according to package directions.
6. Serve the meatballs and sauce over the spaghetti with basil.

3. One-Pot Turkey Chili Mac

Cheesy chili mac made in a single pot with zero fuss.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 8 oz small pasta
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil and brown the turkey with the onion.
2. Stir in the chili powder and cook 1 minute.
3. Add the broth, tomatoes, and pasta.
4. Bring to a boil, then simmer 12 minutes until the pasta is tender.
5. Stir in the cheddar until melted.
6. Serve hot with extra cheese on top.

4. Teriyaki Turkey Rice Bowls

Sweet-savory teriyaki turkey over rice with crisp stir-fry veggies.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 3 cups cooked rice
• 1 bag (12 oz) frozen stir-fry vegetables
• 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Heat the sesame oil and brown the turkey with the ginger.
2. Add the frozen vegetables and cook 5 minutes.
3. Pour in the teriyaki sauce and simmer 3 minutes.
4. Spoon over bowls of hot rice.
5. Top with green onions and sesame seeds.
6. Drizzle with extra teriyaki sauce if desired.

5. Turkey Cauliflower Taco Bake

A low-carb taco casserole with cauliflower rice and melty cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 head cauliflower, riced
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup black beans
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack
• 1/4 cup cilantro

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Brown the turkey in an oven-safe skillet.
3. Stir in the cauliflower rice, tomatoes, beans, cumin, and chili powder.
4. Simmer 8 minutes until the cauliflower is tender.
5. Top with Monterey Jack.
6. Bake 12 minutes until bubbly; garnish with cilantro.

6. Turkey Orzo Soup

Comforting lemon-free turkey and orzo soup loaded with vegetables.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup orzo
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil and brown the turkey, breaking it into crumbles.
2. Add the onion, carrots, and celery; cook 5 minutes.
3. Pour in the broth and add the thyme.
4. Bring to a boil and stir in the orzo.
5. Simmer 10 minutes until the orzo is tender.
6. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

7. Turkey Stuffed Pepper Skillet

Deconstructed stuffed peppers: all the flavor, none of the fussy filling.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 2 bell peppers, diced
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp taco seasoning
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• Sour cream, for serving

Instructions

1. Brown the turkey in a large skillet.
2. Add the peppers and zucchini; cook 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the tomato sauce and taco seasoning.
4. Simmer 8 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
5. Fold in the rice and top with cheddar.
6. Cover 3 minutes until melted; serve with sour cream.

8. Sesame Turkey Green Bean Stir-Fry

Sweet-spicy sesame turkey tossed with snappy green beans.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 lb green beans, trimmed
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• Cooked rice, for serving

Instructions

1. Whisk the soy sauce, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes.
2. Heat the sesame oil and brown the turkey with the garlic.
3. Add the green beans and cook 5 minutes until crisp-tender.
4. Pour in the sauce and toss to coat.
5. Simmer 2 minutes until glossy.
6. Serve over rice.

9. Turkey Noodle Casserole

Creamy, old-fashioned turkey noodle bake with a golden cheese top.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 12 oz egg noodles
• 1 can (10 oz) cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cups frozen peas
• 1 cup shredded Swiss
• 1 tsp paprika

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and cook the noodles until just al dente.
2. Brown the turkey with the onion.
3. Stir in the soup, sour cream, peas, and paprika.
4. Fold in the noodles and half the Swiss.
5. Spread in a greased 9×13 dish and top with remaining cheese.
6. Bake 25 minutes until bubbly and golden.

10. Coconut Turkey Curry

Mild, creamy coconut curry with ground turkey and wilted spinach.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Cooked basmati rice, for serving

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil and cook the onion until soft.
2. Add the curry powder and turkey; brown 6 minutes.
3. Pour in the coconut milk and tomatoes.
4. Simmer 12 minutes until slightly thickened.
5. Stir in the spinach until wilted.
6. Serve over basmati rice.

11. Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Crunchy, fresh lettuce cups with savory hoisin turkey.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 head lettuce (butter or romaine)
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
• 2 green onions, sliced

Instructions

1. Brown the turkey in a skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Stir in the hoisin, soy sauce, and rice vinegar.
3. Simmer 3 minutes until the sauce clings to the meat.
4. Spoon into lettuce cups.
5. Top with carrots, peanuts, and green onions.
6. Serve with extra hoisin for drizzling.

12. White Turkey Chili

Creamy white chili with turkey, white beans, and green chiles.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 can (15 oz) white beans
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• Cilantro and lime, for serving

Instructions

1. Brown the turkey with the onion in a large pot.
2. Add the cumin and green chiles; cook 2 minutes.
3. Pour in the broth and add the beans.
4. Simmer 20 minutes.
5. Stir in the cream and heat through.
6. Serve with cilantro and a squeeze of lime.

13. Turkey Lasagna Roll-Ups

Individual lasagna rolls stuffed with turkey and creamy ricotta.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 2 cups marinara
• 8 lasagna noodles
• 15 oz ricotta
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup Parmesan
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and cook the noodles until pliable.
2. Brown the turkey with Italian seasoning; stir into the marinara.
3. Mix the ricotta, egg, and Parmesan.
4. Spread ricotta over each noodle, add turkey sauce, and roll up.
5. Place seam-side down in a baking dish; top with remaining sauce and mozzarella.
6. Bake 25 minutes until bubbly.

14. Sheet Pan Turkey and Potatoes

Smoky spiced turkey and crispy potatoes roasted on one pan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 lb baby potatoes, quartered
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Fresh parsley, for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a sheet pan.
2. Toss the potatoes and onion with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
3. Roast 15 minutes.
4. Crumble the raw turkey over the pan and toss lightly.
5. Roast 18 minutes more until the turkey is cooked and potatoes are crisp.
6. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

15. BBQ Turkey Sliders with Slaw

Juicy barbecue turkey sliders piled high with crunchy slaw.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 8 slider buns
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 cup coleslaw mix
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• Pickles, for serving

Instructions

1. Brown the turkey in a skillet.
2. Stir in the barbecue sauce and simmer 5 minutes.
3. Toss the coleslaw mix with mayonnaise, vinegar, and sugar.
4. Toast the slider buns.
5. Pile the barbecue turkey onto the buns.
6. Top with slaw and pickles.