8 Easy Ground Turkey Recipes (in 30 minutes or less!) (2024)

Jan 4, 2023 / by Laney Schwartz / 4 Comments(updated Aug 17, 2023)

Jump to Recipe

from 2 reviews

The search stops here! I’m sharing 8 easy ground turkey recipe ideas that’ll make weeknight cooking a breeze. Here you’ll find lots of dinner inspiration using my favorite protein, ground turkey, to make delicious, hearty, healthy 30-minute meals. With everything from chili, to soup, pasta sauce and more, there’s no shortage of tasty ways to cook with ground turkey at home.

8 Easy Ground Turkey Recipes (in 30 minutes or less!) (1)

It’s the time of year where all I want are quick, easy, healthy and comforting meals. Let’s be honest, I always want that! I love using ground turkey in my recipes because it’s lean, mild and takes on whatever flavor you choose. It can be used in soups, stews, pasta bakes, tacos and more! It’s just so versatile!

Keep scrolling for some of my favorite ground turkey recipes that can all be made in 30 minutes or less, for real! People always ask me what to do with ground turkey to keep it from being boring and dry. I’ve got some great options for you! I promise it doesn’t need to be bland.

If you’re ready to try something outside of the 30 minute meal window, you gotta try my Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs or my Turkey Taco Bake. Both are fan favorites!

Feeling excited and ready for even more? Check out all my dinner recipes here! There’s lots more inspiration to get you through those busy weeknights.

I hope you love these recipes as much as I do!

Don’t forget THE most important ingredient when it comes to seasoning your food properly and making it taste amazing…SALT. My all time favorite salt is Redmond Real Salt and you can use code lifeisbutadish for 15% off! Check out my post all about salt to learn more.

20-MINUTE TURKEY TACO SKILLET

Seasoned, savory turkey, melty cheese, and your favorite salsa all make this Turkey Taco Skillet an incredible, hearty weeknight meal!

GET THE RECIPE

20-Minute Instant Pot Tortellini Soup

This easy, delicious Tortellini Soup is hearty and satisfying. It comes together in less than 20 minutes and is packed with flavorful ground turkey, diced tomatoes, cheese tortellini, coconut milk, lemon and parmesan. Cozy up with a bowl of your new favorite easy weeknight meal.

30 Minute Ground Turkey & White Bean Chili

This easy ground turkey chili is a hearty, filling 30-minute dinner recipe. It’s made stove top with canned white beans, diced veggies, and uncooked quinoa for simplicity and ease. But don’t be fooled by how fast it comes together—this turkey chili is packed with fantastic flavor!

GET THE RECIPE

20-Minute Instant Pot Pasta (start to finish!)

A delicious, quick dinner that’s no-stress? Coming right up! Made fast in the Instant Pot, this penne pasta dinner comes together with the push of a button. It’s beyond easy, quick to make, and bursting with rich, tangy tomato flavor.

GET THE RECIPE

25-Minute One Pan Picadillo (so flavorful!)

This easy one-pan recipe for Picadillo combines ground beef and turkey with spices and olives to create a simple dinner with bold, satisfying flavors!

GET THE RECIPE

30-Minute Ground Turkey Bolognese Sauce

Easy quick dinner recipes are my speciality and this ground turkey bolognese fits the bill! The pasta sauce tastes like it has been simmering for hours but is ready in just 30 minutes! Serve with thick fettuccine noodles, enjoy!

GET THE RECIPE

Ground Taco Meat w/ Homemade Seasoning

Finally after years of people asking how I make Taco Meat at home, I’m giving you my favorite Ground Taco Meat w/ Homemade Seasoning recipe!

GET THE RECIPE

30-MINUTE MEATBALL SUB SANDWICHES RECIPES

This recipe for quick and easy homemade meatball subs is made with tender meatballs, tangy marinara sauce, and melted white cheddar cheese. The perfect weeknight meal, ready in just 30 minutes!

GET THE RECIPE

Print

8 Easy Ground Turkey Recipes (in 30 minutes or less!) (10)

8 Easy Ground Turkey Recipes (in 30 minutes or less!) Turkey Taco Skillet

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Laney Schwartz
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 15
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: Mexican Inspired
Print Recipe

Description

Seasoned, savory turkey, melty cheese, and your favorite salsa all make this Turkey Taco Skillet an incredible, hearty weeknight meal!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 tablespoonolive oil
  • 1small red bell pepper, diced
  • 1pound ground turkey
  • ½ teaspoonsalt
  • ½ teaspoongarlic powder
  • ½ teaspooncumin
  • 1(12oz) jar salsa
  • 1 cupblack beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cupshredded Mexican cheese
  • 1avocado, sliced
  • 2 tablespoonscilantro, roughly chopped
  • 1lime
  • Tortilla chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat a skillet over medium/high heat. Add the oil, bell pepper and pinch of salt. Cook for 3-5 minutes until peppers are tender.
  2. Add the ground turkey, salt, garlic powder and cumin. Cook for about 5-7 minutes until turkey is cooked through.
  3. Add salsa and beans and heat through. Sprinkle cheese on top and put under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  4. Serve topped with sliced avocado, cilantro and a big squeeze of fresh lime juice. Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy.

Filed Under

Recipe Collections

Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment & rate this recipe

    Comments

  1. Kim

    My husband and 4 teens all loved this dinner. It was so quick to pull together and only used one pan! That’s my kind of meal! I added some frozen corn, an onion, and fresh spinach because I had some that I wanted to use up, but I think it would have been just as good without them. I served it with tortilla chips, and my daughter said it was “like nachos, but better!”

    Reply

    • Laney Schwartz

      Like nachos but better! I love it!!! Thanks so much for leaving a review.

  2. Sam

    The one pan picadillo is our favorite!!! So easy for busy weeknights, thank you!

    Reply

    • Laney Schwartz

      Yay! So glad you love it as much as we do!

8 Easy Ground Turkey Recipes (in 30 minutes or less!) (2024)

FAQs

How to make ground turkey taste good? ›

What is the best way to season ground turkey? With ground turkey, you need fresh aromatics to season it. Chopped yellow onions, scallions, cilantro, and red bell pepper all help add flavor.

How long should I cook ground turkey? ›

Generally, it is recommended to cook ground turkey for about 8-10 minutes over medium heat until it is no longer pink and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

How to make your own ground turkey? ›

Feed the turkey meat through the grinder, using a plunger or pusher to guide the meat through the blades. If you're using a food processor, work in small batches to ensure even grinding, pulsing the machine until the turkey reaches the desired consistency.

What is the healthiest ground turkey? ›

Whether you're making ground turkey tacos, turkey burgers, or another family favorite, 99% fat-free ground turkey will be your go-to for lean, flavorful dishes.

How to make 99 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!

How do you make ground turkey not taste bland? ›

Under-seasoning is one of the biggest mistakes people make with ground turkey. You'll find the meat bland and flavorless if you don't add a hefty serving of dried herbs and spices, as well as the unforgettable salt-and-pepper combo.

What to add to 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.

When not to cook ground turkey? ›

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.

Should ground turkey be seasoned before cooking? ›

Before you start cooking, be sure to season the ground turkey well with salt and pepper. Also consider including dried herbs and spices for additional flavor. If you're cooking meatballs or meatloaf, pinch off some of the seasoned mixture and cook it in a skillet to taste. Adjust seasoning accordingly.

Can I eat ground turkey by itself? ›

Ground turkey is a low-fat, healthy alternative to ground beef. Cooked correctly, it has a hearty, satisfying flavor that tastes great by itself or in soups and pasta dishes.

Is ground turkey healthier than hamburger? ›

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 I eat ground turkey every day? ›

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.

Is turkey good for high blood pressure? ›

In general, those foods include those high in fat, salt and calories. So herewith, a sampling of the most blood-pressure-unfriendly foods to avoid over the Thanksgiving holiday. Red Meat: Stick to the turkey — the non-deep-fried turkey, that is — because a big 'ol steak registers high in fat, salt and calories.

What brand is the best ground turkey? ›

Shady brook farms 93% lean and 7% fat ground turkey is perfect for making meatballs, burgers, or adding to pasta sauce. The turkey is perfectly juicy and not too fatty. The price is very accessible and you can easily buy it at any big store. I would recommend.

Can you season ground turkey to 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 can I add to ground turkey to keep it moist? ›

Mushrooms add moisture, mouthfeel, and umami (beefy) flavor to the otherwise dry ground turkey. When mushrooms are chopped up into little bits, they easily and evenly mix with ground turkey making the protein so tender and flavorful while also giving the dish a veggie boost.

How do you flavor turkey before cooking? ›

How do you season turkey breast? Just like with a whole bird, a turkey breast can be brined or dry-brined before cooking. If you're looking for a quicker solution, simply rub the turkey breast with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a fresh herb butter—it's perfect for a Thanksgiving dinner for two.

How do you make cooked turkey taste better? ›

It's great to mix butter in with the stock and the natural juices leaking into your roasting pan and baste the turkey with that, in addition to the room-temperature butter you've already rubbed under and on top of the pre-roasted turkey skin, which also helps in retaining moisture by creating a crust.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rob Wisoky

Last Updated:

Views: 5664

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rob Wisoky

Birthday: 1994-09-30

Address: 5789 Michel Vista, West Domenic, OR 80464-9452

Phone: +97313824072371

Job: Education Orchestrator

Hobby: Lockpicking, Crocheting, Baton twirling, Video gaming, Jogging, Whittling, Model building

Introduction: My name is Rob Wisoky, I am a smiling, helpful, encouraging, zealous, energetic, faithful, fantastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.