Skip to Content

16 Ground Turkey Recipes That Are A Meal-Prepping Dream

Future you will be so happy.

By
multicolored peppers stuffed with shawarma and drizzled with a cream sauce and mint
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

If the words "meal prep" just conjures up bland images of poached chicken, rice, and vegetables, it's time to think again. Meal prep is about to get a whole lot easier and a whole lot more exciting thanks to these 16 ground turkey recipes. As it turns out, keeping a pound of ground turkey on hand is not only a surefire way to sneak some lean protein in your day, but also will make Future You so much happier since it'll help you get dinner (and maybe even lunch!) off your to-do list. You heard it here first: After you prep a batch of air fryer turkey meatloaf or turkey feta meatballs, you just might find yourself with a whole lot of extra time to spend however you please!

Especially when we're trying to lighten up some of our comfort food favorites, ground turkey is the ultimate ingredient to keep on hand. Really need a heart-warming slice of lasagna in your life? We've got a turkey lasagna recipe that's just as satisfying. Looking to cut out red meat for a bit? Our turkey chili will make you go, "Beef, who?" And if the weather outside is just plain gross, our turkey shepherd's pie will more than warm you back up. Plus, all of these recipes freeze up great, so no matter where you are on your healthy eating journey, they'll make it super-easy to choose the better-for-you option over take-out.

Looking for more ways to become a meal prep MVP? Check out our other healthy meal prep recipes as well as our best meal prep breakfast recipes!

1

Turkey Chili

turkey chili
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Beef chili may come to mind when you think of the classic, cozy meal, but turkey chili deserves its chance to shine. This easy recipe is full of warm spices and double the amount of beans for a thick, meaty chili that’s every bit as filling as the classic.

Get the Turkey Chili recipe.

2

Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf

air fryer turkey meatloaf topped with lots of ketchup on a black plate
JOEL GOLDBERG

These little meatloaves are exactly what we want to eat when we’re homesick, even if we never had meatloaf growing up. Maybe it’s the ketchup. Maybe it’s the brown sugar. Maybe it’s the tantalizing scent of a cozy meal made extra easy in our air fryer!

Get the Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Thai-Style Red Curry Meatballs

thai style red curry meatballs
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

To make this a true weeknight winner, spoon the meatballs, vegetables, and sauce over steamed jasmine rice or rice noodles for a filling dinner. The super-flavorful curry sauce will soak into your base, giving sweet and savory heat in every bite.

Get the Thai-Style Red Curry Meatballs recipe.

4

Shawarma Stuffed Peppers

multicolored peppers stuffed with shawarma and drizzled with a cream sauce and mint
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Here at Delish, we love stuffed peppers, and we love shawarma. So we thought: What would happen if we combined these two crowd-pleasing classics into one delicious, mostly hands-off recipe? The resulting one-pan recipe is definitely a keeper.

Get the Shawarma Stuffed Peppers recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

taco stuffed sweet potatoes
Parker Feierbach

We love how you can stuff sweet potatoes with pretty much anything. We took these into Tex-Mex territory with a combo of ground turkey, onion, carrots, tomatoes, and taco seasoning.

Get the Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes recipe.

6

Spicy Turkey Sausage & Kale Chili

spicy turkey sausage and kale chili
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

While we love classic turkey chili, when we're looking to spice things up, we turn to this recipe. Spicy ground turkey, red bell peppers, cannellini beans, tomatoes, and kale combine for a cozy soup that will warm you up all winter long.

Get the Spicy Turkey Sausage & Kale Chili recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps

turkey taco lettuce wraps topped with cilantro, red onion, avocado, and tomatoes
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

No bread? No problem. Doubling up on romaine leaves ensures a mess-free lunch you can make ahead, sans the carbs. If you're looking for more lettuce cup recipes try these easy Thai chicken lettuce cups next!

Get the Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps recipe.

8

Turkey Lasagna

turkey lasagna

We love ground beef with all our heart, but every now and then, we need a break. Enter: this beautifully cheesy ground turkey lasagna recipe. It's got everything you love about a traditional lasagna, only you'll feel a little better after destroying a big slice.

Get the Turkey Lasagna recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

Turkey Feta Meatballs

turkey feta meatballs
ANDREW BUI

These turkey feta meatballs are easy to make and can be served any way you like. We like these atop our lemon-yogurt spread, but feel free to get creative—meatball subs, spaghetti & meatballs, whatever you like.

Get the Turkey Feta Meatballs recipe.

10

Turkey Shepherd's Pie

turkey shepherd's pie
PARKER FEIERBACH

When the weather outside is frightful, nothing satisfies our craving for comfort food quite like a good shepherd's pie. A traditional shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb or beef, but this turkey version is surprisingly light and SO easy to make ahead.

Get the Turkey Shepherd's Pie recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

Turkey Meatloaf

turkey meatloaf   delishcom
Parker Feierbach

Ground turkey recipes have a bad rep for being bland and boring. But this meatloaf is LOADED with flavor. How? Worcestershire garlic, rosemary, and thyme. And not only is the glaze totally delicious, but it's also only two ingredients: ketchup and brown sugar.

Get the Best-Ever Turkey Meatloaf recipe.

12

Turkey Zucchini Enchilada Casserole

turkey zucchini enchilada casserole
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

There are few things zucchini can't do, it seems. From grilled zucchini to zucchini soup and zucchini lattice lasagna, you can use it in so many different ways. Here, the beloved summer squash is even standing in for corn tortillas in this savory turkey zucchini enchilada casserole.

Get the Turkey Zucchini Enchilada Casserole recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Air Fryer Turkey Breakfast Sausage

air fryer homemade turkey breakfast sausage
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

If you love to meal-prep at breakfast time too, you’re gonna flip over the flavor of these homemade sausage patties. They’re just as delicious as the classic pork version but made with leaner ground turkey (and in your air fryer = less oil!). Serve these alongside some air fryer pancakes or French toast sticks for the easiest breakfast ever.

Get the Air Fryer Turkey Breakfast Sausage recipe.

14

Garlic Butter Turkey Meatballs

garlic butter meatballs
Parker Feierbach

Garlicky, tender, and NOT boring, these turkey meatballs are some of our all-time favorites to keep on hand during the week. Try them with zoodles or spaghetti squash for a lighter take on an Italian fave.

Get the Garlic Butter Turkey Meatballs recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

Baked Penne Alla Vodka With Turkey

baked penne alla vodka with turkey
Lucy Schaeffer

Here we changed up the classic penne alla vodka a little bit and added in ground turkey. The result is a creamy baked pasta that satisfies every carb craving possible with a little extra boost of protein.

Get the Baked Penne Alla Vodka With Turkey recipe.

16

Spinach-Stuffed Shells With Mini Turkey Meatballs

spinach stuffed shells with mini turkey meatballs
ETHAN CALABRESE

In our unscientific opinion, tiny food just somehow tastes better? While we love our classic stuffed shells, there's just something even more delicious about stuffing them with mini homemade turkey meatballs.

Get the Spinach-Stuffed Shells With Mini Turkey Meatballs recipe.

Watch Next 
preview for Meals & Cooking
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below