Just as with ground beef, pork or chicken, there are endless ways to turn ground turkey into a fast weeknight meal. But turkey, with its low fat content and mild flavor, makes for especially delicious lighter fare. Whether you’re trying to cut down on red meat consumption or turkey is just what’s on sale, these recipes are sure to delight you and your people.
Credit…Mark Weinberg for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Maggie Ruggiero.
Ready in: 30 minutes
Mixing two tablespoons of mayonnaise into the ground turkey mixture keeps these burgers from Andy Baraghani nice and moist. Add a tangy, crunchy iceberg lettuce slaw, your favorite accouterments and a fluffy sesame seed bun, and there you have it: Dinner in a half-hour.
Recipe: Spicy Turkey Burgers
Credit…Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.
Ready in: 50 minutes
This recipe from the great Pierre Franey has been one of our most popular since it first appeared in his column 60-Minute Gourmet in 1992. It is standard in many ways, making use of pantry staples like canned kidney beans and ground cumin, but it calls for a combination of white and dark meat to add some complexity. (All white meat works just fine, too.)
Recipe: Turkey Chili
Credit…Craig Lee for The New York Times
Ready in: 50 minutes, plus chilling
You really can’t go wrong with meatballs, but Melissa Clark’s turkey meatball recipe is especially flavorful and tender, and it makes for the best leftovers. Use them for ladling over pasta or tucking into sandwiches whenever you are in need of a fast, easy meal during the week.
Recipe: Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Credit…Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell.
Ready in: 20 minutes
Classic Chinese flavors of Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry), oyster sauce, soy sauce and white pepper flavor this stir-fry from Cybelle Tondu. The serving suggestion of smearing a bit of hoisin on each lettuce leaf is reminiscent of Peking duck pancakes, except this recipe is far more weeknight-friendly, while just as fun to assemble.
Recipe: Ground Turkey, Shiitake and Cashew Lettuce Cups
Credit…Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.
Ready in: 55 minutes
This true one-pot meal from Melissa Clark is a master class in maximizing what you have in the pantry. Inspired by keema, or Indian spiced, ground meat, she flavors ground turkey with garam masala, cinnamon, cayenne, onion, garlic and ginger. The rice is then toasted and cooked in the same pot, infusing it with the spices’ fragrance.
Recipe: One-Pot Spiced Turkey and Rice
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Ready in: 30 minutes
Rolling ground turkey into 12 full-sized meatballs rather than many tiny ones is just one of the timesaving adjustments that make this recipe from Sarah Copeland a weeknight gem. And rather than chopping aromatics for the base of the soup, store-bought chicken broth steps in to save time. The only chopping you’ll need to do is with the baby spinach or kale, which is added off the heat to retain its vibrant color and fresh flavor.
Recipe: Italian Wedding Soup With Turkey Meatballs
Credit…Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Ready in: 1 hour 30 minutes
Like all the best budget meals, meatloaf is a workhorse that generates returns throughout the week. Melissa Knific’s turkey version is delicious enough to equal the traditional ground beef versions, and thanks to the addition of grated apple, it’s plenty moist. Make sure to coat the loaf with the tangy, ketchup-y glaze, which caramelizes in the oven for a sweet bite.
Recipe: Easy Turkey Meatloaf
Credit…Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell.
Ready in: 35 minutes
For a veggie-forward meal that packs in flavor in a short amount of time, look no further than this stir-fry from Melissa Clark. The crunchy snap peas and the cooling herbs, both added in generous amounts, make this fresh-tasting, while the laab-inspired lime and fish sauce dressing gives it a powerful punch.
Recipe: Spicy Skillet Ground Turkey and Snap Peas
Credit…Con Poulos for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Jerrie-Joy Redman-Lloyd.
Ready in: 45 minutes
I’m almost tired of recommending this recipe to people, but it simply deserves the accolades — not many others in my repertoire are as delicious, nourishing and achievable on a weeknight. The turkey and white beans provide heft with each bite, but the real star is the lemon juice, which livens up the entire dish. Make a big batch and freeze it in portions to make what I believe to be the perfect workday lunch.
Recipe: Lemony White Bean Soup With Turkey and Greens
Credit…Bryan Gardner for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Ready in: 30 minutes
A homemade kofta doesn’t have to be fussy, as demonstrated by this streamlined, oven-baked version from Yasmin Fahr. Combine ground turkey with cumin, turmeric and grated onion, mold it onto wooden skewers, and bake for 11 to 14 minutes. Serve with warmed pita, a fantastic cumin-lime yogurt sauce and sliced cucumbers for a delicious, easy dinner.
Recipe: Spiced Turkey Skewers With Cumin-Lime Yogurt
Credit…Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Hadas Smirnoff. Prop Stylist: Megan Hedgepeth.
Ready in: 40 minutes
A recipe for a complete meal — protein, carbs and vegetables — with few ingredients is rare, and this skillet dinner from Ali Slagle has all the elements of a great one. If you love dill, rejoice! This recipe calls for a bracing amount, and you don’t need to separate the fronds from the stems. The meatballs cook in the same pot as the orzo, and the greens are wilted right on top.
Recipe: Lemon-Dill Meatballs With Orzo
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