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Credit: Joe Lingeman
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5 Easy Dinners That Start with a Pound of Ground Turkey

published Jul 31, 2022
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If you ask me, ground turkey is seriously underrated. You can quickly brown it, add it to just about any recipe, and end up with a hearty, protein-packed dinner in no time at all. It’s cheap, available in every grocery store, and mild enough to pair with bold flavors like salsa verde and spicy tomato sauce.

Like our easy ground beef dinners and chicken breast dinners, here we’ve created five new, super-simple ground turkey dinners that come together quickly without a ton of effort.

Credit: Kitchn

5 Snapshot Recipes That Start with Ground Turkey

  • The turkey: Ground turkey is sold in a handful of different forms, from ground breasts to ground dark meat to pre-seasoned varieties. The most common variety is simply labeled “ground turkey” and is what is called for in these recipes.
  • Other kitchen staples: All of these recipes come together using a handful of basic pantry items. They were designed to be fast with minimal prep, making them perfect for weeknight cooking.
  • The serving size: Each of these recipes starts with a pound of ground turkey, which is enough to feed four people. Alternatively, if you’re cooking for one, use this as a meal prep guide. Whip up one on Sunday and eat it throughout the week.
Credit: Joe Lingeman

Baked Ziti with Spicy Ground Turkey

Heat oven to 350ºF. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 pound ground turkey and cook until cooked through and browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, reduce heat to low, and simmer while you cook the pasta. Add 1 pound dried ziti to the boiling water; cook until al dente, 6 to 7 minutes. Drain and stir into skillet with sauce. Top with 8 ounces thinly sliced fresh mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is melted and browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Garnish with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Salsa Verde Turkey Enchiladas

Heat oven to 350ºF. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 pound ground turkey and cook until cooked through and browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 (17.6-ounce) jar salsa verde, 1/2 (15.5-ounce) can drained and rinsed black beans, and 1/2 (8-ounce) bag shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Arrange 3/4 cup filling down the center of each of 10 medium (6-inch) corn tortillas. Roll tortillas up tightly around filling and place seam-side down in a 9×13-inch greased baking dish. Top with remaining salsa verde and cheddar. Bake until cheese is browned and bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes. Garnish with 1/2 diced red onion, remaining black beans, and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Garlic and Ginger Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Heat 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 2 cloves minced garlic and 2 tablespoons peeled and minced fresh ginger and cook until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 pound ground turkey and cook until cooked through and browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, and 1/2 cup chopped toasted cashews. Remove from heat and stir in 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro. Divide mixture onto 10 butter lettuce leaves and serve immediately.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Turkey Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice

Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 cup short-grain white rice. Return to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cover. Cook until rice has absorbed all of the water, 16 to 18 minutes. Remove from heat, uncover, fluff rice with a fork, and stir in the juice of 1 medium lime and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro. Cover again and set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 pound ground turkey and 1 (1.25-ounce) taco seasoning packet and cook until browned and cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 (15.5-ounce) can drained and rinsed black beans. Serve turkey over rice, topped with salsa, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced avocado, and shredded romaine lettuce.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Turkey Swedish Meatballs

Place 1 pound ground turkey, 1 large egg, 3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 grated medium shallot in a large bowl. Use your hands to gently work everything together into a homogenous mixture. Scoop meatballs into 2 tablespoon-sized portions and roll into balls.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add half the meatballs and cook, turning every 1 to 2 minutes, until browned on 4 sides, about 8 minutes total. Transfer to a plate, repeat with remaining meatballs. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour over oil and cook until flour is no longer dry, 1 minute. Whisk in 2 cups beef broth, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper until smooth. Cook until just beginning to simmer, 2 to 3 minutes. Return meatballs to the pan, simmer 10 minutes. Garnish with 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves and serve over cooked egg noodles.

This post was originally published on Kitchn. Read it there: 5 Quick Dinners That Start with a Pound of Ground Turkey