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Turkey Takeover

Ground beef gets a lot of hype, but if you're a real one, you know ground turkey can be just as much of a stunner (it's often cheaper, too!) When a Redditor asked for some inspiration on what to do with a freezer full of ground turkey, the community had a lot to say about their favorite ground turkey recipes. 


Whether you’re in the mood for meatballs, stir fry, or a hearty breakfast, here are 13 delicious, easy ground turkey recipes.

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Turkey Lasagna

Just about any lasagna recipe that calls for ground beef will work for this classic substitution. This is the exact type of dish I’d choose to fool myself into thinking I’m making the healthy choice. Check out former nuclear budget analyst Ina Garten’s recipe below.


Recipe: Food Network

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Sloppy Joe

An all-time favorite. There’s not a soul alive who can resist a good Slop, and you’ll find that it makes for a perfect ground turkey dinner. I’ll love this sandwich until my dying day. Perhaps on it. Perhaps, even, because of it.


Recipe: Allrecipes

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Chili

This probably springs to mind immediately for a lot of people, and that’s just fine. Turkey chili is a wonderful thing; it can be made in as little as 30 minutes or stretched out all day long in a slow cooker. 


Recipe: Ambitious Kitchen

Larb Gai with Rice - Mint Thai by Alpha (CC BY-SA)

Larb

Though usually made with ground chicken, the Thai meat salad works well with ground turkey since they’re both lean proteins. Keep some tiny lettuce cups on hand.


Recipe:Sainsbury’s


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meatballs frying by (CC BY)
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Breakfast Burritos


If last night’s turkey tacos didn’t get eaten up, save the leftovers for the morning. Just roll it up into a tortilla with eggs, cheese, and salsa. Or, better yet, make your own breakfast sausage.


Recipe:Allrecipes

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Sausage

This is more advanced than your average weeknight dinner, but if you’ve got the equipment (like a meat grinder and sausage casing) you can crank out some delicious sausage. 


Recipe: My Crazy Good Life

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Turkey Meatloaf

Meatloaf is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s a dish that’s made out of leftovers, which can then be turned into more leftovers in the form of a meatloaf sandwich. And in this case, the whole journey begins with ground turkey.


Recipe: Foolproof Living

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Bolognese

I’m not suggesting that dinner parties need to involve some sort of deception, but if you simmer that sauce just right, you might just fool people into thinking they’re eating regular Bolognese. Your lil’ secret.


Recipe: Food Network

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Turkey Burgers

Healthy ground turkey recipes can simulate classic comfort foods, too. For an easy dinner, whip your turkey into some burger patties and make it burger night. Want to up the ante on the healthy, protein-packed vibes? Turn those patties into turkey lettuce wraps instead.


Recipe: Killing Thyme

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Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Hearty. Cheesy. Peppery. This recipe is a winner in my book.


Recipe: Well Plated

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Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

The classic English dish (also known as cottage pie) is almost always made with ground beef or lamb, but look, I’m cool. I’m not gonna rat you out to the Pie Police if you’re just trying to use up your ground turkey. 


Recipe:Allrecipes