What Can I Make With Ground Turkey? 13 Easy Ideas
Thirteen ground turkey dinner ideas grouped by time, with USDA storage and cooking temperatures and a look at the 112 ground turkey dishes in the Well Stockd recipe library.
What can I make with ground turkey? Anything you'd make with ground beef: burgers, chili, tacos, meatloaf, stuffed peppers and skillet dinners. Cook ground turkey to 165°F, use it within 1 to 2 days of buying it, and add moisture and seasoning, since it's lean and mild.
What's the simplest way to use up ground turkey?
Swap it into a dish you already know. Ground turkey works almost anywhere ground beef does, so the easiest dinner is the one you can make without a recipe: tacos, chili, spaghetti sauce or a burger. If that doesn't match your fridge, take stock of what you have and pick a dish that uses the most of it. The cook from what you have hub walks through the method, and the guide to cooking from your fridge shows it step by step.
What can I make with ground turkey for dinner?
Ground turkey on the stove, 30 minutes or less
- Taco bowls. Cook with chili powder, cumin and a splash of water, then serve over rice with beans, corn and salsa.
- Skillet dinners. Brown the turkey with onion and peppers, add a can of diced tomatoes and a handful of kale or spinach.
- Sloppy joes. Simmer with tomato sauce, a little mustard and brown sugar and pile onto buns.
- Lettuce wraps. Season with garlic, soy sauce and ginger, and serve in lettuce cups.
- Chili mac. Stir cooked macaroni into turkey chili with cheese.
Ground turkey in the oven or slow simmer
- Turkey burgers. Mix in grated onion and a spoonful of mayonnaise so the patties stay juicy.
- Meatloaf or meatloaf muffins. The muffin version cooks faster and freezes in single portions.
- Stuffed peppers. Fill with turkey, rice and tomato sauce, and bake.
- Turkey ragu. Simmer with tomatoes and serve over pasta or roasted spaghetti squash.
- Shepherd's pie. Turkey and vegetables in gravy under mashed potatoes.
Ground turkey for the week
- Turkey chili. A big pot gives you lunch for days and freezes well.
- Taco soup. Turkey, beans, corn and tomatoes in broth.
- Meatballs. Bake a batch for subs, pasta and soup.
| Idea | Time | Uses up |
|---|---|---|
| Taco bowls | About 25 minutes | Rice, canned beans, salsa |
| Sloppy joes | About 30 minutes | Buns, tomato sauce |
| Turkey burgers | About 25 minutes | Buns, onion, lettuce |
| Stuffed peppers | About 45 minutes | Bell peppers, rice |
| Turkey chili | About 45 minutes | Canned tomatoes and beans |
| Meatloaf muffins | About 30 minutes | Breadcrumbs, ketchup |
How does the Well Stockd recipe library handle ground turkey?
The library has 112 ground turkey dinners, nearly twice as many as ground chicken. The types include burgers with a topping or salad, meatloaf, skillets, burrito bowls, ragu over squash, and kale salads. Most are 25 to 55 minute dinners for two, and a handful are lighter, salad-style meals.
You can filter by protein and check the availability view to see which ones your kitchen covers right now. The full recipes open inside the app, and a free account gets you there.
How long does ground turkey keep, and how hot should it get?
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Raw ground turkey in the fridge | 1 to 2 days | USDA FSIS |
| Raw ground turkey in the freezer | 3 to 4 months for best quality | FoodSafety.gov |
| Safe cooking temperature | 165°F, checked with a food thermometer | USDA FSIS |
| Cooked turkey leftovers in the fridge | 3 to 4 days | USDA FSIS |
A common slip is cooking ground turkey to the beef number. Ground beef is 160°F, but ground poultry is 165°F. When in doubt, throw it out. The ground turkey storage page has the detail on fridge and freezer windows.
Why does ground turkey turn out dry, and how do you fix it?
It's lean, so it has less fat to keep it tender. Three small habits help. Don't overmix meatballs and burgers. Add something wet, like grated onion, a splash of broth or a spoonful of mayonnaise. And stop cooking the moment it hits 165°F, since extra minutes only dry it out.
How can Well Stockd help you cook ground turkey before it expires?
Add what you have, and fridge and pantry food gets an estimated expiration date, so a package of turkey nearing its date sorts to the top. The recipes view shows what you can make right now, including dinners that need only one or two more items.
Add three foods from your fridge and see what you can cook. Try it free. If you're comparing apps for tracking your kitchen, see the best app to track food expiration dates.
Ground turkey FAQ
Can you use ground turkey instead of ground beef?
Yes, in most recipes. Expect a leaner, milder result, so season a bit more and add some fat or moisture. The cooking temperature goes up from 160°F to 165°F. Here are other ground beef ideas for comparison.
Can you make burgers with ground turkey?
Yes. Mix gently, shape the patties without pressing hard, and cook them until a thermometer reads 165°F in the center. Go by the thermometer, since color isn't a reliable sign of doneness.
Can you freeze cooked ground turkey?
Yes. Cooked leftovers keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge per USDA, and freezing them extends that. Cool them in shallow containers first.