Made with homemade turkey meatballs, tiny pasta, and dark leafy greens, Italian Wedding Soup is simple yet flavorful. Ready in just 30 minutes! Easy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe Italian Wedding soup is a classic favorite of mine. It’s such a simpl…
Made with homemade turkey meatballs, tiny pasta, and dark leafy greens, Italian Wedding Soup is simple yet flavorful. Ready in just 30 minutes! Easy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe Italian Wedding soup is a classic favorite of mine. It’s such a simple yet flavorful soup, with meatballs, small pasta like ditalini, and leafy greens. The name
This Leftover Turkey Enchiladas recipe is a one-pan skillet meal! A super tasty way to use up leftover turkey (or chicken) and vegetables! Leftover Turkey Enchiladas Skillet You guys know how much I love enchiladas, so I’m excited to share this Leftove…
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This homemade Turkey Gravy from stock is my mom’s tried and true recipe. It’s a staple on our Thanksgiving table every year. Turkey Gravy Recipe from Homemade Stock My mom has been making this classic Turkey Gravy recipe for forever, and I’m so excited…
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Rich turkey stock and pureed roasted vegetables create a creamy low-carb turkey gravy without flour. Low-Carb Gravy Roasting turkey wings, neck, or parts along with cauliflower, onion, and garlic gives you a rich turkey stock, which creates this luscio…
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The best White Bean Pumpkin Turkey Chili recipe (Slow cooker or Instant Pot) made with pumpkin puree, ground turkey and green chili & spices. Turkey Pumpkin White Bean Chili This is my favorite white bean turkey pumpkin chili recipe!! A perfect fal…
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Ground turkey sometimes doesn’t get the credit it deserves. It’s a great alternative to ground beef, and with rising grocery prices, you can often find it cheaper than ground beef too! I keep ground turkey stashed in my freezer all the time so I can make some of my favorite recipes including hearty turkey chili and turkey taco salad. So just in case you need a little inspiration from the Budget Bytes team, we’re sharing all of our favorite Ground Turkey recipes for you to enjoy!
Let us know which one is your favorite below, and make sure to save this page so you can reference it later! ;)
One of the quickest dinners around, this Turkey Taco Skillet can be served over rice as a bowl meal, scooped up by tortilla chips, or stuffed into a tortilla for a quick burrito!
When you’re craving spaghetti and meatballs but the price of ground beef is through the roof, make these tender and delicious Turkey Meatballs! They’ll hit that craving every time.
If you’re looking for a light meal prep for workday lunches, you’ve got to give these Mediterranean Turkey Bowls a try! They come together quickly, hold up well in the fridge, and are so refreshing.
If you like a little more color and texture in your bowl of chili, make a pot of this Turkey Chili. It’s chock-full of vegetables, beans, and hearty ground turkey, making the most wonderfully cozy and filling dinner.
Change up your burger game with these Mediterranean Turkey Burgers. They’re full of colorful and flavorful ingredients and are topped with a tangy garlic dill sauce, red onion, and crunchy cucumbers.
Tender baked sweet potatoes smothered with turkey and bean chili, then topped with melty cheddar. Turkey Chili Smothered Sweet Potatoes are an easy dinner!
If fall could be represented in one dish, it would probably be these Turkey Chili Smothered Sweet Potatoes. The smoky-spicy flavor of the turkey chili pairs perfectly with the subtle sweetness of the sweet potatoes for a match made in heaven.
Who doesn’t love a sheet pan meal? Serve these Sheet Pan BBQ Meatballs over a bowl of rice for an easy and delicious weekday dinner with very little cleanup.
This super easy Ground Turkey Stir Fry is a delicious and versatile answer to busy weeknight dinners. Try the suggested variations to make it your own!
One of my favorite meal preps of all time, this Ground Turkey Stir Fry is incredibly versatile! Toss in any veggie you have, customize the sauce to your liking, and you can have a different meal every time.
Maple Sage Breakfast Sausage is an easy way to make your weekend breakfast a little extra special, or to meal prep your breakfast protein for the week!
You don’t even know how good breakfast sausage can be until you’ve made your own homemade Maple Sage Breakfast Sausage. And it’s easy. Impress your loved ones or house guests with this homemade sausage next weekend.
These incredibly simple Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs have been a reader favorite for years. They’re perfect as a party appetizer, or even as a main dish served with some mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce.
Hoisin Stir Fry Bowls with a rich and spicy peanut sauce are a fast answer to dinner with tons of color, texture, and flavor. Use pork, chicken, or turkey!
Stir fry bowls are always an easy go-to for lunch or dinner and these Hoisin Stir Fry Bowls are no exception. Make them for your weekday lunches and you won’t be tempted to order out!
The Easiest Burrito Bowl Meal Prep that you can put together in about 30 minutes with minimal cooking, chopping, and nothing to pack on the side. Lunch can be easy and tasty!
Have we mentioned that ground turkey is great for meal prep? 😅 It’s perfect for a classic Burrito Bowl, whether you want to go simple or dress it up with tons of fun toppings.
These Green Chile Turkey Burgers can’t be beat for a fast, flavorful weeknight dinner. Healthy, ready in about 30 minutes, and full of southwest flavor.
These Mini Garden Turkey Loaves are packed with flavorful and nutritious shredded vegetables for a colorful and vibrant spin on the traditional meatloaf.
These cute little ground turkey loaves have been a reader favorite for years because they’re perfectly portioned, full of veggies, and freeze well for quick reheatable meals later!
I make chili at least every other week during the fall and winter months, so naturally I’ve come up with quite a few variations of our classic chili recipe over the years. This Turkey Chili is a little bit lighter and is chock full of colorful vegetables. It’s the perfect chili recipe for the transition season when the leaves are just starting to fall but the air is still a little on the warm side. ;)
What’s in Turkey Chili?
Turkey chili starts with a similar base as a classic chili recipe: ground meat cooked in a rich and flavorful tomato-based sauce, and seasoned with tons of warm spices. Because ground turkey has a lighter flavor, we went with a lighter, zestier flavor profile and added a ton of colorful vegetables and beans.
Ingredients for Turkey Chili
Here’s what you’ll need to make turkey chili:
Ground Turkey: Opt for dark meat turkey or ground turkey with at least a little fat. Extra-lean ground turkey breast can get a little dry and tough when simmered in chili.
Onion and Garlic: Every good chili starts with onion and garlic to create a deeply savory flavor base! I went with four cloves of garlic for this recipe, but feel free to measure with your heart. ;)
Poblano Pepper & Corn: A diced poblano pepper and some frozen corn kernels add a lot of flavor and color to this chili, making it extra festive. Poblanos can be spicy, though, so if you need a mild heat, skip the pepper or substitute with a green bell pepper.
Beans: A combination of kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans adds even more color, texture, and flavor to this chili. The beans are very flexible, so if you only want black beans or kidney beans, you can certainly substitute them to fit your needs.
Tomatoes: Diced tomatoes add texture to our chili while tomato paste helps thicken the sauce and adds a really rich tomatoey flavor.
Herbs & Spices: The secret to the sauce! We use our homemade chili seasoning, which is a mix of chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, to season our turkey chili.
Make it Vegetarian
This turkey chili is super easy to make vegetarian. Simply swap the ground turkey with an extra can of beans (kidney, black beans, or even pinto beans), or your favorite meat substitute, like soy crumbles.
Slow Cooker Instructions
Chili is a great slow cooker recipe. To make this turkey chili in your slow cooker, first brown the ground turkey in a skillet, then add it to the slow cooker with all of the other ingredients (reduce the water to 1 cup). Cook the chili on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
How to Store Leftovers
After cooking the turkey chili, divide it into single-serving containers and store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Once chilled in the refrigerator, you can transfer some to the freezer for longer storage (about 3 months).
To reheat the chili, either microwave on high, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Or add to a sauce pot and cook over medium-low, stirring often, until heated through.
What to Serve with Turkey Chili
Chili and cornbread were made for each other, so try pairing this turkey chili with our Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread or Sweet Potato Cornbread. And don’t forget the toppings for your chili! Try adding a sprinkle of cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, or cilantro. Or maybe a dollop of sour cream, some corn chips, or pickled jalapeños.
Add the olive oil and ground turkey to a large pot and cook over medium heat until the turkey is cooked through. Break the ground turkey up into pieces as it cooks.
While the turkey is cooking, dice the onion and poblano pepper, and mince the garlic. Add the onion, poblano, and garlic to the pot and continue to sauté for a few minutes more, or until the onions are soft and translucent.
Add the canned beans (drained), frozen corn (no need to thaw), diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and water. Stir to combine.
Place a lid on the pot and allow the chili to come up to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to simmer for 30 minutes (or longer, if preferred), stirring occasionally. After 30 minutes, taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking, then serve.
Add 2 Tbsp olive oil and one pound of ground turkey to a large pot. Cook over medium heat until the ground turkey is cooked through.
While the turkey is browning, mince four cloves of garlic, dice one yellow onion, and dice one poblano pepper. Add the garlic, onion, and pepper to the pot and continue to cook and stir over medium heat until the onions have softened.
Next, add one 15oz. can of kidney beans (drained), one 15oz. can of black beans (drained), one 15oz. can of pinto beans (drained), one 15oz. can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes (with juices), one 6oz. can of tomato paste, 1 cup frozen corn kernels, 1 Tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, ½ tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ¾ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper, and 2 cups water to the pot.
Stir everything to combine, then place a lid on the pot and allow it to come up to a simmer.
Once simmering, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 30 minutes. Give it a taste, adjust the seasoning to your liking, and serve!
And don’t forget to pile it high with your favorite chili toppings!
I love my classic homemade meatballs recipe, but ground beef is getting expensive lately! So when ground beef is out of budget or I’m craving a lightly lighter flavor, I’ll make these super easy Turkey Meatballs. These meatballs freeze well, so consider making a double batch and freezing half for a rainy day. Spaghetti and meatballs is the ultimate quick weeknight dinner, especially when you’ve got homemade turkey meatballs in the freezer ready to go. 😏
Ingredients for Turkey Meatballs
These turkey meatballs are incredibly easy to make and only require eight simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to make them:
Ground Turkey: I used 93% lean ground turkey, which keeps the flavor light but still has enough fat to keep the meatballs from drying out. I don’t suggest using 99% lean ground turkey as it may result in tough meatballs.
Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs combine with the egg to help bind the turkey together to keep the turkey meatballs from falling apart. They also hold moisture, which helps keep the meatballs tender.
Egg: The egg combines with the breadcrumbs to bind the meatballs together and prevent them from falling apart.
Italian Seasoning: A simple store-bought Italian seasoning blend provides tons of herbal flavor to the meatballs.
Other Seasoning: I’ve also added some garlic and onion powder for a little depth and of course the classics, salt and pepper!
Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan gives an extra boost of rich umami flavor to the meatballs, making them extra satisfying and drool-worthy!
Cooking Options
Baking is my favorite method for making meatballs because it’s hands-off, but you can also make these turkey meatballs in an air fryer or a skillet. Here is how to cook turkey meatballs with each of the three methods:
Oven Baked Meatballs: Bake the meatballs at 400ºF for 20 minutes. Or, bake for 15 minutes and transfer the meatballs to a hot skillet with butter to cook for the remaining five minutes, which gives them a nice golden brown exterior.
Air Fryer Meatballs: Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF. Cook the meatballs for 8 minutes, shaking once half-way through, or until cooked through and golden brown on the outside. Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket and preventing airflow.
Skillet: Cook the meatballs in a skillet with olive oil over medium heat until browned on each side and cooked through (about 2-3 minutes on each side). Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
How to Freeze Meatballs
These turkey meatballs freeze really well and make for delicious weeknight dinners later. To freeze the meatballs, pack them in an air-tight container after cooking and chill completely before transferring to the freezer where they can be stored for about three months. To reheat the meatballs, simply add them to a pot of red sauce and simmer until heated through. Or, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then heat through in a skillet with butter or oil.
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. In a bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Add the ground turkey to a separate large bowl, then add the egg and breadcrumb mixture. Use your hands to mix everything together until evenly combined. Try not to overmix as this can make the meatballs tough.
Divide and shape the meat mixture into 16 meatballs, about two tablespoons each. To easily divide the meat evenly, first divide it into quarters, then divide each quarter into four pieces.
Baking Instructions:
Place the shaped meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Transfer the meatballs to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until cooked through. If you prefer more browning, bake the meatballs for 15 minutes, then transfer the meatballs to a hot skillet with butter and sauté until brown, about five minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Air Fryer Instructions:
Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF. Air fry the meatballs for about 8 minutes, or until well browned and cooked through. Shake the meatballs half-way through cooking to turn the meatballs and achieve even browning. Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
Stove Top Instructions:
Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium. Once hot, add the meatballs (work in batches of about 8). Cook the meatballs in the hot skillet until browned on all sides and cooked through (about 2-3 minutes each side).
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. In a bowl, combine ½ cup plain breadcrumbs, 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan, 2 tsp Italian seasoning, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp pepper.
Add one pound of ground turkey to a bowl along with one large egg and the breadcrumb mixture. Use your hands to mix the ingredients together until evenly combined, taking care not to overmix.
Divide and shape the meat mixture into 16 meatballs, placing them on a parchment-baking sheet as you go. To divide them evenly, first divide the mixture in half, then in half again until you have four equal portions. Then take each portion and divide it into four, rolling them into meatballs as you go.
Once the turkey meatballs are all shaped, they’re ready to bake.
Bake the meatballs in the preheated 400ºF oven for 20 minutes, OR bake for 15 minutes and finish in a skillet to achieve more browning (shown baked for 15 minutes above).
I like to finish cooking the meatballs in a skillet with a little butter or oil to get a nice brown finish.
Enjoy the turkey meatballs as-is, or with your favorite sauce!
