Are you searching for delicious meal prep ideas using ground turkey? Look no further! These recipes are simple to make, delicious to eat, and reheat perfectly.
Lean ground turkey makes for a great meal prep option due to its low caloric and fat content. Just be sure to select the 99% lean variety.
1. Roasted Turkey
Thanksgiving turkeys are one of the centerpiece dishes on any Thanksgiving table, and they require a lot of effort and time to prepare. To ensure an ideal roast every time, here are a few tips to help you get it just right:
To make a delicious roasted turkey, begin by creating an aromatic seasoning blend. This is composed of kosher salt, black pepper, and various herbs and spices that you can rub all over the bird before roasting it.
Once you’ve applied your seasoning blend to the turkey, spray it with water. Doing this helps prevent its skin from becoming too dry.
Rinse the turkey thoroughly inside and outside, then pat it dry. Doing this helps maintain crisp skin as well as eliminate any harmful bacteria.
Add some aromatics (carrots, celery leaves or quartered yellow onions) into the cavity of a turkey during cooking to enhance its flavor. Doing this will make the drippings in the pan even more fragrant, adding even more depth and complexity to your gravy.
Stuffing the turkey with stuffing is an excellent way to give it extra flavor, but it’s not necessary. If you don’t plan on stuffing the bird, simply cross its legs and tie them together with kitchen string or tuck them under any remaining skin on its neck for additional support.
Once your turkey has finished roasting, take it out of the oven and allow it to rest for 20-30 minutes. This gives the meat time to firm up and allow any juices to seep back into muscle tissue so it will be easier to slice and serve.
Once the turkey has cooled, carve it to serve. You can slice the bird into several different cuts according to how you prefer it.
2. Turkey Chili
A hearty pot of chili is one of the best foods to have on hand during cold weather. Not only is it comforting and incredibly flavorful, but also packed full of nutritious ground turkey, kidney beans and veggies for extra nutritional value.
If you want to add more complexity to this chili, feel free to add fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, carrots, corn or whatever you have on hand. The beans, onions and spices create an irresistible blend of flavors that is sure to please everyone in the family.
This recipe is an effortless, crowd-pleasing way to prepare ahead of time for busy weeknights. Plus, it tastes fantastic served alongside various side dishes to round out the meal.
This recipe starts with browned ground turkey, sauteed onions and garlic in a skillet. It then simmers in tomato sauce and broth with plenty of seasonings until thickened. Finally, canned tomatoes, beans and kidney beans are added for extra flavor and thickness.
Top this turkey chili off with your favorite toppings for an irresistible dish! Shredded cheese, sour cream, diced avocado and crushed tortilla chips make great additions.
For even greater flavor, you can add some jalapenos and/or cayenne pepper for extra heat. Reheat in either a stockpot or microwave until heated through.
This delicious recipe can be easily made ahead of time and stored in the freezer. Simply allow it to cool completely, divide into freezer friendly plastic containers or bags, and freeze for up to three months!
3. Turkey Stuffing
Stuffing is a beloved Thanksgiving staple, but it can be tricky to perfect. Some argue that cooking it inside the turkey breast is beneficial, while others warn against doing so as it could result in overcooked and dry meat.
The USDA suggests cooking all items inside a turkey, including stuffing, until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. However, cooking stuffing inside can be tricky since it cannot stay warm long enough for proper cooking and may lead to bacteria growth and food poisoning.
One of the best ways to ensure you never run out of stuffing is by making it one day in advance. Start by making your stock, gathering all ingredients until step four, and then store in an airtight bowl in the fridge.
When making stuffing, you can opt for the classic combination of dried bread cubes, sausage, celery, onions and herbs. However, if you’re in search of a healthier option, ground turkey would work just as well.
This recipe calls for any type of bread, but we suggest using a crusty baguette as it has more flavor than other varieties. You could even toast your own if desired.
This easy and flavorful stuffing recipe calls for letting the bread soak up turkey broth, butter, and aromatics. It makes an ideal Thanksgiving side dish and can be prepared a day ahead of time for maximum enjoyment during your celebration.
This simple-to-make recipe makes more than a turkey can hold, so you can prep it ahead and bake on Thanksgiving morning. Plus, you can freeze it for up to three months!
4. Turkey Pot Pie
If you’re searching for a quick and simple meal prep recipe to use up Thanksgiving leftovers, turkey pot pie is your answer. This dish features homemade pie crust, delicious turkey and vegetable filling, then is topped off with flaky pastry.
To prepare the turkey pot pie, preheat your oven to 425 degF (220 degC) and move your baking rack down one level below center. In a large saucepan, melt butter and saute onions until soft and translucent (approximately 5 minutes).
Combine turkey and vegetables with onion mixture in a casserole dish. Cover with another layer of pie dough and crimp edges for decorative effect. Bake until browned and crisp, 30 to 35 minutes.
This recipe calls for a base of butter and flour that are mixed together before being cooked with spices. This creates a savory gravy which then becomes the pie filling, season to your preference.
Once the butter and flour have cooked, add chicken broth and seasonings to the pan. Stir until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
Next, add cream and stir until thickened. This will create a smooth sauce to pour over the vegetable and turkey filling.
This dish calls for a variety of ingredients, including stout beer to give the filling an irresistibly flavor! However, if you don’t have access to stout beer, water or beef broth will do just as well.
For a healthier option, substitute the heavy cream in this recipe with chicken broth or sour cream. Both are healthier alternatives than regular cream and give the filling an enhanced flavor.
You can make this recipe ahead of time and freeze it for later; simply thaw and reheat according to the directions below.
5. Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce wraps are a delicious light meal or appetizer to share with friends. Since they typically don’t have sauce or heavy dressing on them, you can experiment with flavors and textures without feeling overwhelmed.
These sweet sesame turkey lettuce wraps make for an effortless weeknight dinner that can be served as either an appetizer or main course! Packed full of flavor, they come together in just 20 minutes!
These turkey lettuce wraps feature lean ground turkey and crunchy carrots, mushrooms and water chestnuts in a flavorful mixture that’s flavored with soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice wine vinegar and red chili paste.
For a fast and effortless meal prep, prepare the filling ahead of time. Stored separate from lettuce leaves in an airtight container, it can be stored up to three days in an airtight container and heated on the stovetop in just minutes.
To expedite this process, chop vegetables or thaw ground turkey ahead of time so it’s ready when needed. Additionally, prepare all sauce ingredients (per the recipe below) ahead of time so they are all pre-measured and ready for quick access when required.
Add the remaining ingredients to the filling and simmer until everything is thoroughly cooked. Spoon into butter lettuce leaves, top with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
These turkey lettuce wraps, inspired by PF Chang’s classic recipe, make for an irresistible appetizer or satisfying meal. Not only that, they’re ready in just 20 minutes with no utensils required – making them ideal meal prep for busy nights