13 Ground Turkey Recipes to Have on Hand

Turkey and Pinto Bean Chili
Photo: © Con Poulos

Whether you're looking for a burger recipe or a hearty chili, there's a lot you can do with ground turkey. Think meatballs to add heft to your soups, a ragù for pasta, and smoky kibbe kebabs for grilling. You can make meatloaf with ground turkey, too. Here's how to prepare those dishes and even more ground turkey recipes.

01 of 13

Turkey Meatloaf

Turkey Meat Loaf
© Abby Hocking

Sweet Italian turkey sausage and freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese lend an almost meatball-like flavor to this moist, marinara-topped turkey meatloaf.

02 of 13

Escarole Soup with Turkey Meatballs

Escarole Soup with Turkey Meatballs
© Bree Hester

These succulent meatballs are flavored with garlic, onion, Parmesan, parsley, salt, and black pepper.

03 of 13

Crispy Turkey Kathi Rolls with Mint-and-Date Dipping Sauce

Crispy Turkey Kathi Rolls with Mint-and-Date Dipping Sauce
© John Kernick

Kathi rolls, a popular street food in India, are made by rolling vegetables or meat in roti, an Indian flatbread. In her fabulous take on the recipe, Padma Lakshmi wraps flour tortillas around a succulent filling of ground turkey, fresh ginger, curry, and basil, then pan-fries the rolls until crispy for a decadent hors d'oeuvre.

04 of 13

Ground Turkey Laap

Ground Turkey Laap.
© Petrina Tinslay

In Laos, this laap (a ground meat dish) is usually made with duck and can be eaten alone or with sticky rice. The recipe here substitutes ground turkey, which is widely available in the U.S. and less expensive.

05 of 13

Pappardelle with Red Wine and Meat Ragù

Pappardelle with Red Wine and Meat Ragù
© DAVID LOFTUS

This spectacular pasta dish combines pappardelle with a meaty ragù made from red wine, ground beef, ground turkey, and dried porcini mushrooms.

06 of 13

Turkey Kibbe Kebabs with Two Sauces

Turkey Kibbe Kebabs with Two Sauces
© James Baigrie

Cookbook author Paula Wolfert learned this unusual dish from Burhan Cagda, the kebab master of Gaziantep, Turkey. Bulgur mixed in with the ground meat makes the kebabs light and tender. The two sauces — one tangy, herbal, and nutty and the other creamy and garlicky — play off the smoky kebabs and off each other as well.

07 of 13

Beef, Turkey, and Mushroom Meatloaf

Beef, Turkey and Mushroom Meat Loaf
© Fredrika Stjärne

Chef Rocco DiSpirito cuts back the meat and swaps in mushrooms for this meatloaf recipe. He uses earthy creminis along with ground beef and turkey for a loaf that's moist and tasty.

08 of 13

Bok Choy and Rice Noodle Soup with Turkey Meatballs

Bok Choy and Rice Noodle Soup with Turkey Meatballs
© DANA GALLAGHER

This soup from recipe developer Jeannie Chen is light enough to enjoy all year round.

09 of 13

Turkey Tortilla Soup

Turkey Tortilla Soup
© Molly Yeh

Blogger Molly Yeh includes ground turkey in this version of tortilla soup that's filling and absolutely delicious.

10 of 13

Green Goddess Turkey Burgers

Green Goddess Turkey Burgers
© Nicole Franzen

This tasty turkey burger from F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple gets its great flavor from anchovy, scallions, and lots of fresh herbs.

11 of 13

Turkey and Pinto Bean Chili

Turkey and Pinto Bean Chili
© Con Poulos

Chef Art Smith's turkey chili comes together in two simple steps and one pot. Serve it with chopped chives and any other fixings you desire.

12 of 13

Turkey Burgers with Smoked Gouda

Turkey Burgers with Smoked Gouda
© John Kernick

By adding two flourishes to a simple grilled turkey burger, chef Bobby Flay makes it fantastic. First he melts slices of smoky Gouda cheese onto the meat; then he spreads toasted buns with a sweet-spicy sauce of mustard, horseradish, and honey.

13 of 13

Chipotle-Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs

Chipotle Cranberry Glazed Turkey Meatballs
Photo: Jennifer Causey / Food stylist Ali Ramee

These cranberry-glazed meatballs are one of cookbook author Carrie Schloss' favorite go-to appetizers, especially during the winter holiday season. The chipotle pepper and honey added to the cranberry sauce give it gentle notes of heat and sweetness. She also makes sure the meatballs are well-seasoned with cumin, ancho chile powder, and smoked paprika so that every bite is full of flavor.

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