17 Healthy Ground Turkey Recipes That Are Ready in 30 Minutes or Less

October 22, 2019
From burgers to meatballs, ground turkey is a great substitute in so many different dishes—it’s not only leaner than red meat, but it’s also the perfect alternative for when you’re tired of eating chicken. These 17 healthy ground turkey recipes will make your weeknight dinners a breeze. 

 
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Honey-Mustard Turkey Burgers

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Burgers made with ground turkey are a lean alternative to beef burgers, providing you choose turkey ground from the breast. Regular ground turkey, which is a mixture of light and dark meat and some skin, contains almost as much fat as lean ground beef. A honey-mustard mixture keeps these low-fat patties moist and succulent.

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Air-Fryer Turkey Stuffed Peppers

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Stuffed peppers are a classic family meal—and they're fun to eat, too. Instead of roasting the sweet peppers in the oven, use an air fryer to get them crisp-tender but not soggy.

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Caprese Turkey Burgers

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If you're a fan of caprese salads, you'll love this healthy turkey burger recipe. The patties are seasoned with Italian spices, then topped with juicy tomatoes drizzled with balsamic, fresh basil and fresh mozzarella. We've doubled down on the basil in this recipe by mixing it into the mayo and using whole leaves to top the burger, but if you prefer less basil flavor, you can swap out the basil leaves for spinach or arugula. Serve this burger with a simple side salad for a healthy dinner that's full of fresh flavors.

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Greek Turkey Burgers with Spinach, Feta & Tzatziki

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Creamy tzatziki and crisp sliced cucumber add a refreshing twist to this easy Greek-inspired burger recipe loaded with feta, spinach and Mediterranean spices. No tzatziki? No problem! Make your own at home by combining plain Greek yogurt with a squeeze of lemon, dill and finely chopped cucumber.

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Turkey Kofta with Tahini Sauce

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Kofta is the common term for the combination of ground meat, onions and spices shaped into balls and cooked. In this turkey kofta kebab recipe, ground turkey and minced onion are mixed with cumin and allspice to make a delicious grilled dinner. Look for tahini, a sesame paste, with Middle Eastern ingredients or in the natural-foods section of the supermarket.

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Turkey Burgers with Mango Chutney

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Mango chutney and grilled red onion flavor this quick turkey burger. Serve with grilled baby red potatoes and a frosty beer.

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Five-Spice Turkey & Lettuce Wraps

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Based on a popular Chinese dish, these fun wraps also make appealing appetizers for entertaining. Make it a meal: Serve with chile-garlic sauce and rice vinegar for extra zip; toss diced mango and strawberries with lime juice for a quick dessert.

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Korean Turkey Burgers with Kimchi

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Korean chile paste (also known as gochujang) blended into the ground turkey makes this turkey burger recipe incredibly moist and flavorful. Top these healthy turkey burgers with kimchi—a fermented mixture of cabbage and other vegetables—which can be found near other refrigerated Asian ingredients or near sauerkraut or pickles in well-stocked supermarkets or natural-foods stores.

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Base Turkey Mixture

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This basic ground turkey mixture can be tossed into everything from veggie soup to lasagna. It's also delicious atop a leafy green salad.

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Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew

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This satisfying stew comes together in a snap. Mashed chickpeas add body to the broth, and tomato paste adds a savory note without piling on the sodium. To simplify the prep, look for chopped fresh onion and shredded carrot or a soup starter mix in the produce section.

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California Turkey Burgers & Baked Sweet Potato Fries

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Inspired by an option at the West Coast chain In-N-Out Burger, this turkey burger recipe keeps the carbs in check with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. The side of sweet potato fries bakes while you prep the burgers, so this entire healthy dinner is ready in under 30 minutes.

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Turkey Ma Po Tofu

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Ma Po Tofu is a traditional Chinese recipe usually made with ground pork. This delicious, healthy version uses ground turkey to cut saturated fat and calories and adds mushrooms for extra veggies. Serve with brown rice and make it extra special with a drizzle of sesame oil just before serving.

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Air-Fryer Greek Turkey Burgers

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Sharp raw garlic, fresh herbs and tangy feta cheese superbly flavor these turkey burgers. Since the patties are air-fried with very little oil, there's room to add a bit of olive oil to the meat to keep the patties from drying out.

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Asian Turkey Burgers

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Served on bagel thins instead of hamburger rolls, these Asian-inspired turkey burgers are topped with a delicious hoisin-mayonnaise sauce and crunchy napa cabbage. They're quick to prepare and a perfect choice for your next grilling event.

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Versatile Saucy Meatballs

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These versatile turkey meatballs can be served for lunch in a meatball sandwich or for dinner over pasta. If you're looking for an easy healthy dinner that's low in calories and carbs, try serving them over cooked, shredded spaghetti squash instead of pasta!

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Hawaiin Turkey Sliders

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Grilled pineapple tops flavorful turkey burgers to give this easy slider recipe Hawaiian flair.

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Turkey Sausage & Peppers Burger

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If you love the classic flavors of the Italian sausage and peppers sandwich, this healthy burger recipe, inspired by that flavor combination, is for you. If you don't have a grill basket, fold a 24-inch piece of heavy-duty foil in half and crimp the edges to create a lip; this will prevent the vegetables from sliding through the grill rack.

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