Ground beef gets a lot of hype, but if you’re a real one, you know ground turkey can be just as much of a stunner (it’s often cheaper, too!) When a Redditor asked for some inspiration on what to do with a freezer full of ground turkey, the community had a lot to say about their favorite ground turkey recipes.
Whether you’re in the mood for meatballs, stir fry, or a hearty breakfast, here are 13 delicious, easy ground turkey recipes.
Turkey Lasagna
Just about any lasagna recipe that calls for ground beef will work for this classic substitution. This is the exact type of dish I’d choose to fool myself into thinking I’m making the healthy choice. Check out former nuclear budget analyst Ina Garten’s recipe below.
Recipe: Food Network
Sloppy Joe
An all-time favorite. There’s not a soul alive who can resist a good Slop, and you’ll find that it makes for a perfect ground turkey dinner. I’ll love this sandwich until my dying day. Perhaps on it. Perhaps, even, because of it.
Recipe: Allrecipes
Chili
This probably springs to mind immediately for a lot of people, and that’s just fine. Turkey chili is a wonderful thing; it can be made in as little as 30 minutes or stretched out all day long in a slow cooker.
Recipe: Ambitious Kitchen
Larb
Though usually made with ground chicken, the Thai meat salad works well with ground turkey since they’re both lean proteins. Keep some tiny lettuce cups on hand.
Recipe: Sainsbury’s
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Turkey Meatballs
Roll that lean ground turkey up with breadcrumbs, eggs, and a few other simple ingredients and you’ve got all kinds of possibilities.
Recipe: New York Times Cooking
Related: Quick & Easy Ground Beef Recipes That Make Dinner a Breeze
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Ground Turkey Stir Fry
With the right veggies and aromatics, you can substitute ground turkey for a huge number of ground pork stir fry recipes. This one from Gypsy Plate looks great.
Recipe: Gypsy Plate
Related: 19 Summer Casseroles to Bring to the Potluck
Breakfast Burritos
If last night’s turkey tacos didn’t get eaten up, save the leftovers for the morning. Just roll it up into a tortilla with eggs, cheese, and salsa. Or, better yet, make your own breakfast sausage.
Recipe: Allrecipes
Sausage
This is more advanced than your average weeknight dinner, but if you’ve got the equipment (like a meat grinder and sausage casing) you can crank out some delicious sausage.
Recipe: My Crazy Good Life
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Turkey Meatloaf
Meatloaf is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s a dish that’s made out of leftovers, which can then be turned into more leftovers in the form of a meatloaf sandwich. And in this case, the whole journey begins with ground turkey.
Recipe: Foolproof Living
Bolognese
I’m not suggesting that dinner parties need to involve some sort of deception, but if you simmer that sauce just right, you might just fool people into thinking they’re eating regular Bolognese. Your lil’ secret.
Recipe: Food Network
Turkey Burgers
Healthy ground turkey recipes can simulate classic comfort foods, too. For an easy dinner, whip your turkey into some burger patties and make it burger night. Want to up the ante on the healthy, protein-packed vibes? Turn those patties into turkey lettuce wraps instead.
Recipe: Killing Thyme
Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Hearty. Cheesy. Peppery. This recipe is a winner in my book.
Recipe: Well Plated
Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
The classic English dish (also known as cottage pie) is almost always made with ground beef or lamb, but look, I’m cool. I’m not gonna rat you out to the Pie Police if you’re just trying to use up your ground turkey.
Recipe: Allrecipes
