Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Popular Ingredients 14 Easy Ground Turkey Recipes for Busy Weeknights This inexpensive, low-fat protein stars in soup, salad, chili, and more. By Dawn Perry, Dawn Perry Dawn is the author of Ready, Set, Cook; How to Make Good Food With What's on Hand. She served as the food director for Real Simple and has worked in the test kitchens of Everyday Food, Bon Appétit, and the meal kit delivery service Martha & Marley Spoon. Dawn is the author of Short Stack Editions' Cucumbers and her recipes and writing have been featured in the LA Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post among other publications. She recently started Superkind Cookies, a premium cookie company shipping treats nationwide. Highlights: * Author of Ready, Set, Cook; How to Make Good Food With What's on Hand. * Former food director for Real Simple * Worked in the test kitchens of Everyday Food, Bon Appétit, and Martha & Marley Spoon * Recipes and writing have been featured in the LA Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Lisa Milbrand, Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 27, 2023 Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel Turkey isn't just for Thanksgiving and to prove it, we compiled easy recipes that use ground turkey. With less fat than beef and less pricey than lamb, ground turkey is also fast-cooking and versatile. Use ground turkey to lighten up a bowl of comforting chili, whip up some scrumptious meatballs, or fill dumplings or a savory pie. Whichever you choose, you'll end up with a simple satisfying meal that makes your weeknights easier. Discover our best ground turkey recipes ahead. 15 Easy Ground Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight 01 of 14 Turkey Rosemary Bolognese Brie Passano This tasty pasta dish requires scant hands-on time, but the sauce simmers low and slow until it's rich and flavorful. The recipe calls for finely chopped cooked turkey meat, but cooked ground turkey works great, too. Don't forget to serve with a baguette for sopping up extra sauce! GET THE RECIPE 02 of 14 Turkey Lasagna Rolls MELISSA KRAVITZ HOEFFNER What we love about this recipe is you can use cooked turkey in any form: ground, shredded, or diced. It's joined by other Thanksgiving stars—namely gravy, creamed spinach, and mashed potatoes—or whatever leftovers are in your fridge after the big meal. Add a jar of marinara sauce and sprinkle some cheese on top and you're good to go. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 14 Turkey-and-Rice Meatballs Caitlin Bensel These tasty meatballs make a fast and easy weeknight meal, so make at least two batches: one for tonight and the other to freeze for later. This recipe pairs them with a crunchy kale-and-apple salad and a creamy lemony tahini dressing. Plus, you'll only need half an hour till dinner is served. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 14 Pasta With Turkey and Broccoli Raymond Hom A quick sauté of ground turkey in a splash of olive oil with garlic, fennel seed, and red pepper flakes creates a pasta sauce that's every bit as savory and satisfying as many that require twice as much effort. Another trick? Streamline cooking and cleanup by cooking the broccoli in the same pot as your pasta. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 14 Smoky Turkey Chili Caitlin Bensel While chili is usually made with ground beef, this healthier version calls for ground turkey, along with tomatillos, poblano peppers, and a pinch of cinnamon. Top this comforting dish—also packed with beans, corn, and sweet potato—with sour cream, sliced pickled jalapeños, and grated pepper jack cheese. Dinner is served! GET THE RECIPE 06 of 14 Turkey Burgers With Lime Mayo and Crispy Oven Fries Greg DuPree This recipe uses ground turkey seasoned with garlic powder, oregano, and dried chilis to whip up flavorful burgers for the whole family. If you can handle even more deliciousness, top each with lime mayo and ripe avocado slices. We serve it all with a side of perfectly cooked potato wedges. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 14 Turkey Sloppy Joes With Coleslaw Raymond Hom Ground turkey has a reputation for being too dry, but this recipe puts an end to that bad rap. A mix of tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire ensures this turkey sandwich is juicy and flavorful. A quick and light red wine-vinegar-tossed slaw complements the hearty Sloppy Joes perfectly. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 14 Turkey-Barley Vegetable Soup Raymond Hom Warm and satisfying yet light and healthful, this soup is a well-balanced meal in a bowl. For the perfect accompaniment, add a crusty loaf, a pan of cornbread, or fluffy homemade biscuits. You'll need just 15 minutes of hands-on time before you allow the soup to simmer. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 14 Turkey Taco Salad Alexandra Grablewski For a lighter take on a classic taco, give this salad a whirl. Along with ground turkey, you'll find the usual taco components: beans, store-bought salsa, sour cream, and grated cheese. Sprinkle some tortilla chip pieces on top for a satisfying crunch. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 14 Grilled Turkey-Zucchini Burgers Caitlin Bensel Dry turkey isn't a concern with these burgers thanks to moisture-packed zucchini. Garlic powder and cumin bring extra flavor to the patties, while a schmear of honey mustard and mayo adds irresistible creaminess. We serve the burgers with sweet potato chips but feel free to go for fries or another chip of your choice. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 14 Turkey and Scallion Dumplings Brie Passano This recipe calls for leftover chopped cooked turkey, but ground turkey works great, too. Serve these dumplings with a simple tamari-based dipping sauce, or drop them into a miso broth for a satisfying meal. Either way, this dish is an easy copy of your favorite take-out appetizer. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 14 Ricotta Meatballs Marcus Nilsson Combine ground turkey with ground beef for these easy-to-make meatballs that also include ricotta, bread crumbs, and grated Parmesan cheese. It takes just 25 minutes in total for a whopping 30 meatballs. For a complete meal, serve over pasta, zucchini noodles, or polenta. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 14 Turkey-Pumpkin Chili Caitlin Bensel This dish is the epitome of fall flavors—chili, pumpkin, and turkey—in a warm, nourishing bowl with a couple of twists from traditional chili. It features cannellini beans (instead of pintos) and is seasoned with just coriander and paprika (instead of chili powder and cumin), but goes great with tortilla chips just the same. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 14 Turkey and Cheese Pupusas Brie Passano Ever tried pupusas? It's a Central American dumpling-like dish made with corn flour and filled with meat, cheese, or beans. This one is stuffed with mozzarella and cooked turkey, which can be ground, shredded, or chopped. Pan-fry them to a golden brown, top with salsa verde and sour cream, and you'll know why El Salvador adopted it as their national dish. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit