Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Popular Ingredients 12 Easy Ground Turkey Recipes for Busy Nights 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 is a copy writer for Real Simple, with a passion for writing about food, travel, and hacks to make life easier. Loves fancy restaurants, good coffee and her family (of course); not a fan of waiting in lines. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Instagram Website Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple.com. Prior to joining Real Simple, she wrote and edited stories about food trends, plant-based food, nutrition, and new product releases for Food Network, LIVEKINDLY, and Eat This, Not That. She also launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. She is a graduate of New York University as a University Honors Scholar. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 1, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: MELISSA KRAVITZ HOEFFNER Turkey isn't just for Thanksgiving. In fact, ground turkey is healthier than beef, less pricey than lamb—and, as you'll see from these recipes, fast-cooking and versatile, too. You can use the lean ground meat to lighten up a bowl of comforting chili, whip up some scrumptious meatballs, or even add some protein to everything from homemade dumplings to a simple salad. As you'll soon learn, there are plenty of satisfying ground turkey recipes to add to your repertoire. Try a few of these easy ground turkey dishes to make your weeknights easier. The 30 Healthiest Foods to Eat Every Day 01 of 12 Turkey-Rosemary Bolognese Brie Passano This tasty pasta dish requires very little hands-on time, but the sauce simmers low and slow until it's rich and flavorful. Don't forget to serve with a baguette for sopping up the extra sauce at the end. get the recipe 02 of 12 Turkey Lasagna Rolls MELISSA KRAVITZ HOEFFNER One of the things we love about this recipe is that you can use leftover turkey in pretty much any form, including ground, shredded, or diced. The meat is then joined by other Thanksgiving leftover stars, such as gravy, creamed spinach, and mashed potatoes. Add a jar of marinara sauce and sprinkle some cheese on top and you're good to go. get the recipe 03 of 12 Turkey-and-Rice Meatballs Caitlin Bensel These tasty meatballs make a fast and easy weeknight meal. get the recipe 04 of 12 Pasta With Turkey and Broccoli Raymond Hom Quickly sautéing 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? Preparing the broccoli in the same pot as your pasta keeps the process streamlined and means fewer dishes need to be cleaned. get the recipe 05 of 12 Smoky Turkey Chili Caitlin Bensel While chili is usually made with ground beef, this healthier version calls for a pound of ground turkey instead. The lean meat gets plenty of flavor from tomatillos, poblano peppers, and even a pinch of cinnamon, and this comforting dish is also packed with a mix of beans, corn, and sweet potato. Top each bowl with sour cream, sliced pickled jalapeños, and grated pepper Jack cheese, and dinner is served! 31 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for When You're Craving Comfort Food get the recipe 06 of 12 Turkey Burgers With Lime Mayo and Crispy Oven Fries Greg DuPree Use a pound of ground turkey (preferably dark meat) to whip up burgers for the entire family. In this recipe, the meat acts as a blank canvas, but salt, pepper, and a spice mix including garlic powder, dried oregano, and dried chilis infuse it with plenty of flavor. When the burgers are done, top each one with lime mayo and ripe avocado slices for even more deliciousness. get the recipe 07 of 12 Turkey Sloppy Joes With Coleslaw Raymond Hom A mix of tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire ensures the sandwich is juicy and flavorful. get the recipe 08 of 12 Turkey-Barley Vegetable Soup Raymond Hom Add the spinach just before serving to preserve its bright color and fresh flavor. get the recipe 09 of 12 Turkey Taco Salad Alexandra Grablewski For a lighter take on a classic taco, give this salad (made with ground turkey instead of beef) a whirl. Aside from the ground meat, you'll find plenty of familiar components in this dish, including beans, store-bought salsa, sour cream, and grated cheese. Sprinkle some tortilla chip pieces on top to give this salad a satisfying crunch. get the recipe 10 of 12 Grilled Turkey-Zucchini Burgers Caitlin Bensel Though turkey can sometimes be dry, that's definitely not a concern with these burgers thanks to the inclusion of moisture-packed zucchini. Garlic powder and cumin bring extra flavor to the patties, while a combo schmear topping of honey mustard and mayo adds irresistible creaminess. How to Cook Hamburgers 5 Different Ways—Including Grilled, Broiled, and More get the recipe 11 of 12 Turkey and Scallion Dumplings Brie Passano Another recipe that was made for leftover turkey! Here, the turkey gets finely chopped and tossed with flavorful ingredients, such as fresh ginger, tamari, and sesame oil. Serve these dumplings with a simple tamari-based dipping sauce, or drop them into a miso broth for a satisfying meal. Either way, consider this dish an easy way to recreate your favorite take-out appetizer. get the recipe 12 of 12 Ricotta Meatballs Marcus Nilsson Use a combination of ground turkey and ground beef to throw together these easy-to-make meatballs, which also include ricotta, bread crumbs, and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve these classic meatballs over pasta, zucchini noodles, or polenta for a complete meal. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit