What To Make With Ground Turkey

Turkey meat is healthy meat compared to certain other types. In terms of utility, turkey also makes for favorite sandwich meat as well as a popular ground beef alternative. Turkey meat can also be used as a ground turkey in a number of different ways. Ground turkey is very versatile when used in meal preparation. For instance, it can be used in meatloaves, meatballs, turkey burgers, turkey chili, shepherd’s pie, casseroles, pasta dishes, and even turkey soup. Recipes suggesting what to make with leftover ground turkey are often used to give popular recipes a healthier twist.

Lean ground turkey has less saturated fat and cholesterol than ground beef but yields all of the same fantastic flavors without compromising on the taste. Ground turkey makes an ideal substitute for the more traditional beef patty in burgers. For instance, if losing weight or consuming less fat is on your agenda then ground turkey is the way to go. Turkey burgers made with lean meat feel lighter and come with fewer calories.

Ground Turkey Recipes – Turkey burgers

Turkey burger with roasted eggplant

  • 1 medium eggplant, roasted 2 Tbsp. parsley finely chopped 4 tsp. olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice ½ tsp. kosher salt divided
  • ½ tsp. black pepper ground 1 lb. ground turkey ¼ tsp. marmite
  • 1 tsp. soy sauce, reduced-sodium 4 hamburger buns, toasted Lettuce leaves
  • Tomato slices

Cut roasted eggplant in half and scoop out pulp to measure one and a half cups. Discard skin. Pulverize eggplant pulp in a food processor until smooth. Reserve a quarter cup of the pureed eggplant pulp and combine the remaining with 1 tsp. parsley, 2 tsp. olive oil, lemon juice, and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Combine the ground turkey with the remaining 2 tsp olive oil and mix. Add the reserved quarter cup eggplant puree and season with remaining parsley, marmite, and soy sauce. Divide this mixture into four equal parts and shape it into burger patties. Chill.

Preheat grill to medium heat and coat patties with cooking spray. Place on heated grill and barbecue for four minutes on each side or until done. Place patties on burger buns, top with seasoned eggplant mixture, lettuce leaves, and tomato slices. Enjoy.

Turkey chili

When it comes to deciding what to make with leftover ground turkey, preparing chili is an obvious choice. This is because you cannot really go wrong with chili. All that is required is to throw in your basic ingredients, chop up your veggies, and let everything simmer until all flavors have blended and the mixture is piping hot.

2lbs lean ground turkey 1 chopped onion 5 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp. olive oil 1 can crush tomatoes 1 can dice tomatoes

½ tsp. hot sauce 1 can kidney beans 1 green and red bell pepper, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste 2 tsp oregano 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Drizzle olive oil in a pan and sauté onion and garlic until fragrant. Add ground turkey and cook until brown and crumbled. Drain any excess liquid. Add remaining ingredients and cook on medium-low heat for about an hour.

Turkey meatloaf

When choosing a recipe on what to make with leftover ground turkey, give the traditional meatloaf a makeover with this ground turkey version.

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt, and pepper to taste 1 ½ tbsp. Worcestershire sauce   1/3 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp. ketchup 1 ¾ lbs. lean ground turkey ¾ cups breadcrumbs
  • 1 lightly beaten egg 1 lightly beaten egg white
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Place a skillet over medium heat and add oil. Cook onion until soft and add garlic. Season with salt and pepper cooking for another minute. Add in Worcestershire sauce, chicken broth, and 1 tbsp. ketchup. Transfer mixture to a separate bowl and cool.

When cooled, add ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, and egg white to the mixture and mix well. At this stage, the mixture will be very moist.

Place ground turkey mixture into a lightly greased loaf pan and brush the top with a little bit of ketchup.

Bake for one hour or until the thermometer inserted reads 170. Let meatloaf stand for five minutes before serving.

Use turkey in combination with your favorite type of pasta to concoct a dish if you feel stuck on ideas for what to make with left over ground turkey. Pasta is versatile and can be used to put together, lasagnas, noodles, salads, or stir-fries and turkey will go along well with each type. Here is one way to use pasta and ground turkey in a recipe that tells you what to make with left over ground turkey.

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil Salt and pepper to taste 1 leek
  • 2 celery stalks 1 lb. carrots julienned  2 garlic cloves
  • 1 lb. lean ground turkey 2 cans diced tomatoes 8oz. wheat wheat linguine
  • 1 tbsp. chopped parsley

Prepare pasta as per packet directions.

In a medium skillet, heat oil on medium heat. Add vegetables with garlic with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are just tender. Add ground turkey and cook until no longer pink. Add tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes.

Put prepared linguine in serving dishes and top with turkey mixture.  Garnish with parsley before serving.

If you ever question yourself what can I make with ground turkey, take a look at these recipes and remember that putting the turkey into casseroles, savory pies, tacos, sloppy joes and kabobs are all interesting and delightful ways to decide on what to make with leftover ground turkey.

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