Ground turkey meals

cmorehar
cmorehar Posts: 18 Member
edited November 24 in Food and Nutrition
Does anyone have good recipes or types of meals they can share with me for cooking with ground turkey? For awhile I've been doing ground turkey and whole grain pasta, but I am trying to veer away from carbs later in the day now. Any help is appreciated!

Replies

  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    No specific recipes, but a few ideas: have you tried zoodles? Spiralizing vegetables and using them instead of pasta may work.

    Or, saute vegetables of your choice with your ground turkey and stuff into a lettuce wrap or bell pepper. Depends on your personal tastes, though.
  • cmorehar
    cmorehar Posts: 18 Member
    I heard of spiraling zucchini just recently, but haven't tried to make it yet. Thanks for the help
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I've just used ground turkey in recipes that use ground beef. Meatballs, chili, tacos, tator tot casserole for example.

    https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Ground turkey
  • flippy1234
    flippy1234 Posts: 686 Member
    Mix ground turkey with eggs and spinach. Great protein breakfast that you can eat any time of the day.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Meatballs. Whatever you do with it to mix with pasta but mixed with vegetables instead.

    I had a lot more suggestions until I read 'veer away from carbs'.
  • Meatballs, or mixed with taco seasoning and served with pepper, black beans and rice as your diet allows.
  • Jim_1000
    Jim_1000 Posts: 52 Member
    Anything that requires ground beef can be substituted with turkey. We do fajitas and tacos with ground turkey. Also Chinese stir fry. Recently I've been buying green giant riced cauliflower. It's amazing with some soy sauce. 1 cup is 20 calories!!! Add a chicken or turkey breast and you have a filling low cal/fat meal.
  • horsmankt
    horsmankt Posts: 3 Member
    You could make turkey burgers with spinach. I found a great recipe on YouTube. https://youtu.be/Vn20uhKnMyA
  • joelchmielak1
    joelchmielak1 Posts: 48 Member
    Ground turkey, chijuajua cheese, salsa, avocado, tomato and onion over greens. Little taco salad mash up that I like. Really filling. For more carbs I do brown rice instead of greens.
  • ikolorez
    ikolorez Posts: 1 Member
    I've been using this recipe for turkey sausage in my breakfast burritos, it's really good.

    Turkey Sausage

    1 pound ground turkey
    1 teaspoon salt
    ½ teaspoon cracked pepper
    1 teaspoon dried sage
    ¼ teaspoon fennel
    1 teaspoon onion powder
    ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    1 tablespoon olive oil

    1. Place oil in a medium frying pan.
    2. Add turkey, salt, pepper, sage, fennel, onion powder, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
    3. Mix together and cook over medium heat until fully cooked through. About 5-7 minutes.
    4. Eat or use as desired.
  • natruallycurious
    natruallycurious Posts: 359 Member
    Another vote for taco salad (I don't use any shells). Also stuffed bell peppers. Or bell pepper nachos (cut them into little boats, put ground turkey on top, sprinkle some cheese, and bake).

    I know you said ground turkey, but a meal I really enjoy with ground chicken is stuffed zucchini boats. Just cut a zucchini in half and hollow it out some to create a little boat. Cook the chicken on the stove top, and then mix with marinara and distribute into the zucchini. Bake until the zucchini is soft. You can even sprinkle some mozzarella or parmesean cheese on top. I always do it with chicken, but you could probably substitute turkey and it be just as good.
  • mom23mangos
    mom23mangos Posts: 3,069 Member
    My lunch this week has been Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. Spaghetti squash for the spaghetti and ground turkey for the meat. Add in some mushrooms and low cal tomato sauce and voila.
  • grantsmommy
    grantsmommy Posts: 29 Member
    I know it doesn’t sound appetizing but it is really good. It’s called GLOP. Lol. It stands for get lots of protein. You cook ground turkey and then mix in 8oz cottage cheese and 16oz jar salsa. The original recipe also calls for brown rice mixed in but I’m not a fan of rice. It doesn’t look pretty but tastes really good! I’m actually making it tonight.
  • mom23mangos
    mom23mangos Posts: 3,069 Member
    I know it doesn’t sound appetizing but it is really good. It’s called GLOP. Lol. It stands for get lots of protein. You cook ground turkey and then mix in 8oz cottage cheese and 16oz jar salsa. The original recipe also calls for brown rice mixed in but I’m not a fan of rice. It doesn’t look pretty but tastes really good! I’m actually making it tonight.

    That sounds disgustingly good. I think I'm going to have to try it.
  • kemoon0915
    kemoon0915 Posts: 113 Member
    I like to make a tomato pasta sauce with ground turkey and diced tomatoes and serve it on roasted portabella caps with a little cheddar cheese broiled on top.
  • ilfaith
    ilfaith Posts: 16,769 Member
    I make asian lettuce wraps...similar to PF Chang's version. Super quick and easy...even my kids like them.

    Brown the ground turkey with a few tablespoons of soy ginger (or other similar asian style) salad dressing...I use Newman's Own or Ken's lite versions. Add a dollop of hoisin sauce if desired. I also like to add chopped water chestnuts.

    Prepare a bagged chopped asian salad as directed (my supermarket carries Taylor Farms brand...I believe Dole and Fresh Express also make similar salads...but I suppose any cabbage slaw would work...you would just need to add additional asian dressing).

    Mix the browned turkey with the salad. The warm ground turkey will slightly "cook" the cabbage mixture.

    Make wraps with any larger leaf lettuce (iceberg, boston, bibb. butter, romaine...whatever your preference)...add hoisin to taste.
  • Frankie_Fan
    Frankie_Fan Posts: 562 Member
    For taco night we use ground turkey instead of beef. Can't really tell a difference with seasoning.
  • Janice6543
    Janice6543 Posts: 92 Member
    I sometimes make a white chili recipe with Turkey and white beans. Delicious. Should be able to google a recipe.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    ilfaith wrote: »
    I make asian lettuce wraps...similar to PF Chang's version. Super quick and easy...even my kids like them.

    Brown the ground turkey with a few tablespoons of soy ginger (or other similar asian style) salad dressing...I use Newman's Own or Ken's lite versions. Add a dollop of hoisin sauce if desired. I also like to add chopped water chestnuts.

    Prepare a bagged chopped asian salad as directed (my supermarket carries Taylor Farms brand...I believe Dole and Fresh Express also make similar salads...but I suppose any cabbage slaw would work...you would just need to add additional asian dressing).

    Mix the browned turkey with the salad. The warm ground turkey will slightly "cook" the cabbage mixture.

    Make wraps with any larger leaf lettuce (iceberg, boston, bibb. butter, romaine...whatever your preference)...add hoisin to taste.

    That sounds delicious!
  • jessieknh
    jessieknh Posts: 52 Member
    Pinterest has a lot of stuff if you put in the ingredients you have also
  • peaceout_aly
    peaceout_aly Posts: 2,018 Member
    cmorehar wrote: »
    Does anyone have good recipes or types of meals they can share with me for cooking with ground turkey? For awhile I've been doing ground turkey and whole grain pasta, but I am trying to veer away from carbs later in the day now. Any help is appreciated!

    Have you seen those Bird's Eye bags with the protein packed blends? I love mixing those with ground turkey. Lasts for 4-6 days in the fridge.
  • meldjk44
    meldjk44 Posts: 28 Member
    MEATLOAF!!!
    I LOVE making meatloaf with ground turkey. I add some spinach, any color bell pepper, garlic, onions and an egg. some Panko and bbq sauce. throw that sucker in the oven for 40mins. BEST meatloaf ever!!!!!!!
  • RollTideHusker
    RollTideHusker Posts: 231 Member
    Southwestern-Flavored Ground Beef or Turkey

    Ingredients

    2 tablespoons olive oil
    1 large onion, chopped
    3 large garlic cloves, minced
    3 tablespoons chili powder
    2 teaspoons dried oregano
    1 tablespoon ground cumin
    3 pounds lean ground beef or turkey
    1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
    Salt and pepper, to taste
    1/4 cup cornmeal

    Directions
    *Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet until shimmering.
    *Add onion; saute until soft, about 5 minutes.
    *Add garlic, chili powder, oregano and cumin; saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
    *Add beef or turkey and cook, stirring often, until it loses its raw color.
    *Stir in tomatoes; simmer to blend flavors, about 5 minutes.
    *Add salt and pepper, to taste.
    *Stir in cornmeal; cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens, almost instantly.
    Cool and refrigerate (or serve warm for dinner as tacos or taco salad).
  • artbyrachelh
    artbyrachelh Posts: 338 Member
    I know it doesn’t sound appetizing but it is really good. It’s called GLOP. Lol. It stands for get lots of protein. You cook ground turkey and then mix in 8oz cottage cheese and 16oz jar salsa. The original recipe also calls for brown rice mixed in but I’m not a fan of rice. It doesn’t look pretty but tastes really good! I’m actually making it tonight.

    After you add the cottage cheese and salsa, do you heat it through?
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I like turkey chili with black beans.

    https://pin.it/djeru5dop5cjhj
  • cmorehar
    cmorehar Posts: 18 Member
    Thanks a lot everyone, I'm definitely going to try these out!
  • lasuarez165
    lasuarez165 Posts: 1 Member
    Hello! You can use ground turkey to make meatballs, burgers, tacos, wraps... there are a lot of ideas to use this kind of protein source. Just keep in mind the portions as ground turkey usually contains a lot of fat.(As long as they fit in your macros...)
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    edited February 2018
    jgnatca wrote: »
    I like turkey chili with black beans.

    https://pin.it/djeru5dop5cjhj

    Seconding the recommendation for turkey chili with black beans. I like turkey pumpkin chili with black beans. Taco seasoning (or cumin and chili powder, garlic), green salsa, turkey, canned pumpkin, black beans, a V8, onions and yellow bell pepper.

    You can buy ground turkey at different levels of leanness if you're concerned about fat.
  • mjbnj0001
    mjbnj0001 Posts: 1,268 Member
    I second all suggestions of using ground turkey as a substitution for ground beef in recipes.

    I make turkey meatloaf/turkey burgers using a different herb/seasoning mix than my beef versions about 1/2 the time (the rest of the time, I use my beef meatloaf seasonings approach or a Tex-Mex flavorings approach). I use both Litehouse dried herbs poultry mix as well as the ground McCormick poultry spice (with minced onion, minced celery, panko, egg, S&P [lite on the salt], dash of cayenne or hot sauce, and whatever else strikes my fancy that night). See picture below; I was rushed this last week and only rough-chopped the onions and celery, but the chunkiness made a nice burger anyway. Made roasted brussels sprouts as one side.

    Another fairly low carb dish, and I would need to dig out a proper recipe for it (I usually wing it), is to make "turkey eggplant boats" - see below picture. Carve out the eggplant, cook up a thick, turkey-based Italian-style red sauce (I often make my own) - including the carved-out eggplant chunks and other veggies/mushrooms you want to add. When the sauce [filling, actually - "sauce" sounds too thin] comes together, spoon it into the carved eggplant shells, bake until nearly done, remove and top with a little cheese, and bake until browned.

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