Our Favorite Ground Turkey Recipes

By Patricia S. York

It takes a lot of thought to create a delicious yet healthy meal, one that everyone in the family will enjoy. Lightening up the old Southern Classics is an obvious choice, but lean ground turkey, which contains less saturated fat and cholesterol than lean ground beef, is a smart choice when it comes to cooking the family favorites such as burgers, chili, and enchiladas. This selection of ground turkey recipes will enable you to enjoy a hearty and tasty dinner tonight without worrying about excessive fat and cholesterol. And while turkey has gotten a bad reputation over the years for being dry and tasteless, simply follow the easy recipe instructions and you will see how flavorful and juicy ground turkey can be. Shoppers note: turkey breast is lean, but dark meat is not, and some packages of ground turkey contain both. Be sure to read the label so you can buy exactly what you need.  Need more options for cutting back on fat and calories? Main Dish Salads are a great option for satisfying meals.

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Healthy Turkey Lasagna

Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Healthy Turkey Lasagna

This may be a lightened version of the traditional Italian dish but, we promise, this recipe is so full of flavor you won’t miss a thing.

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Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili

Jennifer R. Davick

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili

Cooking the meat, along with the onion, garlic, and spices, before adding it to the slow-cooker helps to bring out the rich flavor of the dish.

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Tex-Mex Turkey Burgers

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Tex-Mex Turkey Burgers

Fire up the grill and make a pitcher of margaritas. These turkey burgers feature summer’s best Tex-Mex flavors.

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Pickled Onion-Chutney Burgers

Recipe: Pickled Onion-Chutney Burgers
Recipe: Red Onion Relish
Recipe: Homemade Hamburger Buns

Mango chutney and a homemade red-onion relish move these turkey burgers from good to great.

5 of 21

Smoky Turkey-and-Sweet Potato Chili

Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Smoky Turkey-and-Sweet Potato Chili

Lima beans and sweet potatoes give this smoky chili a decidedly Southern spin.

6 of 21

Greek Turkey Burgers

Recipe: Greek Turkey Burgers

Perfect for a summer meal, these burgers showcase light ground turkey and the Greek flavors like mint, yogurt, feta, red onion, and cucumbers. 

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Muffuletta Burgers

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Recipe: Muffuletta Burgers
Recipe: Homemade Hamburger Buns

The popular New Orleans sandwich is reinvented as a lean turkey burger.

8 of 21

Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili with Quinoa

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili with Quinoa
Recipe: Cilantro Sauce

Perfect for game-day festivities, let the slow cooker do the work while you enjoy the fun.

9 of 21

Green Tomato-Feta Burgers

Recipe: Green Tomato-Feta Burgers
Recipe: Homemade Hamburger Buns

Red tomatoes may go well with a beef burger, but the green ones are perfect for topping a lean turkey burger.

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Italian Turkey Meatloaves

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Italian Turkey Meatloaves

The traditional Sunday meal gets a healthy makeover with the use of lean ground turkey.

11 of 21

Turkey Cheeseburgers with Rosemary Onions

Recipe: Turkey Cheeseburgers with Rosemary Onions

The Rosemary Onions add an unexpected flavor profile to these burgers. Round out the meal with sweet potato fries.

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Quick Turkey Chili

Recipe: Quick Turkey Chili

This flavor-filled chili, ready in under 45 minutes, should be called Pantry Chili, since you probably already have all the ingredients. 

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13 of 21

Easy Enchiladas

Recipe: Easy Enchiladas

Made with ground turkey sausage, this dish has all the pop and flavor of the traditional version.

14 of 21

Toasted Pecan, Cranberry, and Gorgonzola Turkey Burgers

Recipe: Toasted Pecan, Cranberry, and Gorgonzola Turkey Burgers
Recipe: Cranberry Mustard

This recipe is so full of favorite holiday flavors, like pecans, cranberry and turkey, it almost sounds like a Thanksgiving meal.

15 of 21

Turkey Burger Patty Melts

Recipe: Turkey Burger Patty Melts

Cranberry sauce and toasted pecans lends unexpected taste and texture to these ground turkey sandwiches.

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16 of 21

Breakfast Pizza Cups

Recipe: Breakfast Pizza Cups

We made this weekend favorite a bit healthier by using ground turkey sausage and egg substitute.

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Tasty Turkey Burgers

Recipe: Tasty Turkey Burgers
Recipe: Fresh Herb Marinade
Recipe: Herb-Grilled Onion Rings

These turkey burgers explode with unexpected flavor. Top with Herb-Grilled Onion Rings and this will become your family’s favorite burger recipe.

18 of 21

Better-for-You Turkey Meatloaf

Recipe: Better-for-You Turkey Meatloaf

This traditional meatloaf recipe, using quick-cooking oats and Worcestershire sauce, is made a bit lighter by substituting lean ground turkey for fattier beef.

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Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili

This top-rated recipe is a reader favorite. It uses lean ground turkey, the traditional chili components, and a convenient slow cooker. What could be better?

20 of 21

Crispy Ginger-and-Garlic Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Recipe: Crispy Ginger-and-Garlic Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

No need to go out for dinner when you can make your favorite lettuce wraps, featuring lean ground turkey, in your own kitchen.

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