When you need a reliable weeknight dinner, grab that package of ground turkey from your refrigerator. It’s a lean protein which means you can easily whip lots of healthy options, but it’s also juicy and delicious — and can just as easily be used in any of your favorite recipes. Craving a comforting pot of chili or a plateful of stuffed peppers? Or maybe you want a reliable family favorite like meatloaf or lasagna. Ground turkey can do it all. Best of all, it cooks up quickly so you’ve got lots of options for getting a meal on the table fast. One of our favorite uses for ground turkey has to be meatballs — especially these ones. They’ve got a light, tender texture and are packed with flavorful herbs. The meat mixture is softer than you might expect, thanks to the addition of ricotta, but sacrificing a perfectly round shape is worth it. These meatballs truly live up to their name!
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The Best Turkey Meatballs
Turkey Lasagna
This lasagna recipe skips the onerous step of boiling lasagna noodles. Layer uncooked ones in the hearty turkey ragu and they will emerge from the oven fork-tender under their bubbling blanket of cheese.
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Turkey Lasagna
You don’t have to wait until summer to make burgers. Anne’s are made right on the stovetop and feature bold flavors like soy sauce and ginger to liven up lean turkey meat.
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Turkey Burger
Shawarma Stuffed Peppers
Molly says, “These stuffed peppers are inspired by the flavors of one of my all-time favorite street foods, shawarma. Shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish consisting of seasoned meat cooked on a spit and then shaved thin. The spice combination typically found in shawarma is savory, warm and totally addictive!”
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Shawarma Stuffed Peppers
Guy Fieri recommends forming the ground turkey into oblong patties when preparing these juicy turkey melts. This way, you’ll get the perfect bread-to-meat ratio in these sandwiches.
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Turkey Burger Patty Melts
The Best Turkey Meatloaf
A slightly lighter version of the all-American classic, this satisfying meatloaf uses chicken broth and soaked panko to stay moist, and a mix of fresh herbs for flavor. It’s the best turkey meatloaf you’ll find!
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The Best Turkey Meatloaf
Giada reinvents this classic childhood casserole for adult palates with a hearty, artichoke-studded ricotta filling and spicy red sauce.
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Turkey and Artichoke Stuffed Shells with Arrabbiata Sauce
Sloppy Bombay Joes
Aarti Sequeira cooks up the all-American classic sloppy joe with an Indian twist by adding spices like garam masala and cumin.
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Sloppy Bombay Joes
You can have fork-tender turkey meatballs that are golden yet moist, thanks to the air fryer! Pair with fun zoodles, your favorite jarred tomato sauce and an extra pinch of Parmesan for a delicious and wholesome meal.
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Healthy Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs with Zoodles
Stuffed Turkey Burgers
Ellie Krieger’s turkey burgers are healthy but far from bland. She stuffs each patty with mozzarella cheese and roasted red peppers for creamy texture and sweet, smoky flavor.
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Stuffed Turkey Burgers
This easy, weeknight chili has an extra vegetable component: butternut squash noodles. These sweet and savory twirly bites add texture, flavor and color.
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Turkey Chili with Butternut Squash Noodles
Individual Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Our version of this rustic British classic transforms it into a quick, easy main for any night of the week. For an all-in-one meal in single servings, you can divide the filling among four 9-ounce ramekins before topping it with the mashed potatoes. Bake on a baking sheet until the filling is bubbly around the edges and the potatoes are lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
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Individual Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
For a leaner take on the classic meatloaf, try ground turkey instead of beef. Serve the slices hot or enjoy them cold in a sandwich.
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Turkey Meatloaf
Turkey and Spinach Taquitos
Turkey, spinach and mascarpone cheese come together as a satisfying filling for soft corn tortillas in this simple recipe. For authentic flair, serve the cheesy taquitos with chunky salsa and fresh guacamole.
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Turkey and Spinach Taquitos
There’s a mixture of pork and turkey in these loaves to keep them meaty and flavorful, but you can use all ground turkey if you like. The football shape is perfect for a game night.
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Mini Meatloaves
Big-Batch Turkey Chili
Pull out your biggest pot and get ready to make a whole lot of chili. All the effort and time will pay off, knowing that your freezer is filled with easy dinners that can be thawed and quickly reheated.
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Big-Batch Turkey Chili
Stuffed with sweet Italian sausage and prosciutto, Ina Garten’s jumbo meatballs deliver so much flavor that you’d never guess they were built with a base of lean ground turkey.
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Spicy Turkey Meatballs and Spaghetti
Double-Decker Turkey Patty Melt
Alex Guarnaschelli’s lighter take on the double cheeseburger features ground turkey in place of beef. Adding some Sriracha mayo to the ground meat makes for extra-juicy burgers with a hint of spiciness. If you want something smaller, make eight individual, single-layer burgers instead.
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Double Decker Turkey Patty Melt
Sweeter than the typical chili, Valerie’s recipe calls for ground turkey, chopped chocolate, cinnamon and Worcestershire sauce. For authentic Ohio-style chili, she serves the dish over a heaping bowl of spaghetti.
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Ohio Turkey Chili
Mini Turkey Meatballs
Giada De Laurentiis dresses up mild turkey meat with onion, garlic, parsley and cheese to make rich, moist meatballs.
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Mini Turkey Meatballs
This recipe captures many of the traditional flavors of chili, but boosts its texture, color and vitamins. We’ve used protein-rich black beans, lean ground turkey and sweet butternut squash, and added some unexpected crunch and thickening power with chia seeds.
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Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili
Southwest Turkey Burgers
Rachael Ray combines lean turkey with lots of vegetables so the burger stays moist. Cilantro, peppers and spice add some great Southwestern flavors.
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Southwest Turkey Burgers
Serve these juicy turkey meatballs on their own as a mini appetizer or add them to your favorite pasta recipe. For moister, more flavorful meatballs, be sure to use ground turkey, not ground turkey breast.
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Lemon Whole-Grain Linguine with Turkey Meatballs
Jerk Turkey Burgers with Mango Slaw
These island-inspired grilled patties combine ground turkey with grated green apple, jerk seasoning and panko breadcrumbs, and they’re topped with mango chutney slaw for a sweet contrast.
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Turkey Burgers with Mango Slaw
Serve Giada’s spicy turkey and cannellini bean chili with a side of her simple quinoa-and-pine nut pilaf. The fluffy quinoa will help to soak up the savory chili broth.
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California Turkey Chili
The Ultimate Sloppy Joes
Ground turkey, brown sugar and ketchup add a touch of sweetness to Tyler’s sloppy joes. Pro tip: Prepare the bread and butter pickles the day before and chill in the fridge overnight to let the flavors develop.
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The Ultimate Sloppy Joes
Instead of reaching for the takeout menu try this instead. Melissa d’Arabian’s DIY lettuce wraps let little eaters choose which veggies to include in their dinner.
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Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Terrific Turkey Burger
You’ll get the same big meaty bites from Amanda Freitag’s turkey burger as you would from the signature burger at your local greasy spoon, but not the excessive fat. Not only does Amanda opt for lean turkey over beef, but she also works chives, shallots and finely diced red bell pepper into the patties.
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Terrific Turkey Burger
An enchilada, by definition, is a corn tortilla filled with various ingredients and drenched in cheese and sauce. This recipe doesn’t involve any rolling of tortillas, nor does it require copious amounts of cheese. However, every bite will remind you of the flavors of this popular comfort food.
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Ground Turkey Enchilada Stir-Fry with Couscous
Turkey Noodle Casserole
Rachael’s throwback dish combines tender egg noodles with a creamy sauce of bacon and ground turkey. For a classic cheesy crust, top the casserole with first Gruyère, then breadcrumbs, and broil until the cheese is melted and the crumbs are golden brown.
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Turkey Noodle Casserole
Large bell peppers will brighten up this big-batch turkey chili with their mild sweetness. Rachael stirs in a bit of barbecue sauce for a touch of sweet heat.
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Indian Summer Turkey Chili
Mom’s Turkey Meatloaf
Ellie lightens up her mom’s meatloaf while still keeping all the flavor she loved as a kid. Her secret? Quick-cooking oats, for added fiber and texture.
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Mom’s Turkey Meatloaf
The chefs in Food Network Kitchen use turkey in place of classic beef to create this hearty Bolognese. All the same familiar flavors are here, though — tomatoes, mirepoix, garlic and fennel.
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Turkey Bolognese Sauce
Bobby Flay’s Turkey Burgers
Bobby enhances juicy grilled turkey burgers by topping them with goat cheese, lemon-honey mustard and watercress.
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Turkey Burgers
Giada’s light, brothy soup is loaded with lean ground turkey, whole grains and plenty of vegetables.
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Turkey, Kale and Brown Rice Soup
My Big Fat Greek Burgers
A spinach-and-feta-cheese stuffing makes this burger juicy and satisfying, especially when topped with a lemon-and-dill yogurt sauce.
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My Big Fat Greek Burgers
Smoked paprika gives the sauce for this stew an exotic edge and deep, woodsy flavor, which partners perfectly with herb-flecked turkey meatballs.
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Spanish Turkey Meatball Stew
Turkey-and-Rice Stuffed Peppers
Brown rice, dried currants and walnuts add excellent hearty texture to these turkey-stuffed bell peppers. Serve the peppers with a simple side salad for a wholesome and well-rounded weeknight dinner.
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Turkey-and-Rice Stuffed Peppers
The spicy kick and multiple herbs in this sauce lend layers of flavor without fat. The carrot, onion and Parmesan add volume and moisture.
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Turkey Meatballs with Quick And Spicy Tomato Sauce and Whole-Wheat Spaghetti
Perfect Turkey Burgers
Mix a portobello mushroom into the turkey patty for added flavor, then top with cheese and creamy avocado.
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Perfect Turkey Burgers
Grated apples and a pinch of cinnamon infuse fall flavor into these mini turkey meatballs. Serve them solo for a group or over mashed potatoes and topped with parsley for a family meal.
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Turkey-Apple Swedish Meatballs
Ryder’s Turkey Chili
Guy uses turkey meat and three kinds of beans to make this kid-friendly chili. It’s packed with protein and great for next-day school lunches.
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Ryder’s Turkey Chili
Giada uses both ground turkey and turkey sausage to whip up these tender, delicious meatballs.
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Classic Italian Turkey Meatballs
Ranch-Style Turkey Chili
Poblanos are spicy but not too hot, making them the perfect kick for crowd-pleasing chili. Rachael tops this tailgate favorite with shredded cheddar, crispy bacon and crumbled corn muffins.
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Ranch-Style Turkey Chili
There’s nothing bland about these fiery tacos. To really kick it up a notch, try frying your own taco shells.
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Turkey Tacos Picadillo
Mini Turkey Meatloaves
Ree puts a modern twist on a classic comfort food with ground turkey, bacon bits and red pepper flakes. Her secret weapon? She uses oats in place of breadcrumbs.
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Mini Turkey Meatloaves
Cocoa powder may seem a bit out of place in chili, but it has two jobs in this mole-inspired version: It adds depth of flavor and helps thicken the sauce. We suggest serving the chili with tortilla chips, but it would also be great with cornbread.
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Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Turkey Meatloaf with Feta and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Feta and sun-dried tomatoes add exotic flavor to Giada’s healthy turkey meatloaf.
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Turkey Meatloaf with Feta and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Guy stuffs his peppers with ground turkey, red quinoa and kale before topping them with a panko-Parmesan mixture and a drizzle of Roasted Tomatillo Avocado Sauce. These just may be the most-satisfying stuffed peppers around.
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Turkey and Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Penne with Turkey Ragu
Simmering the sauce with a Parmesan cheese rind allows the tomatoes to adopt that nutty, salty flavor.
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Penne With Turkey Ragu