Last updated on October 3rd, 2022 at 08:34 pm
Turkey is one of the healthiest, most versatile, and most delicious meats. This is perhaps why it rarely misses on the thanksgiving dinner table. But you don’t have to wait till Thanksgiving to enjoy some sweet turkey. You can prepare this delicious dish anytime, any day, whether there is an occasion or not.
This article includes 25 Turkey mince recipes that we think are worth trying. But before we get to them, let’s look at the health benefits of Turkey.
What are the Health Benefits of Turkey Meat?
Rich in protein
Did you know that protein in poultry meat supplies all the nine essential amino acids? These amino acids are crucial for growth and repair. And as an added benefit, poultry protein is of a type that’s easily accessible to our bodies.
In this regard, turkey is richer in protein than chicken. So if you’re looking for a good source of protein, you can substitute chicken with Turkey in all your recipes.
Low in fat
Poultry meat is low in fat. This is because rather than rely on fat for energy, these birds are packed with fast twitch muscles that enable short bursts of energy.
Compared to chicken, turkey has a lower fat content. Furthermore, of the little fat it does have, only a third is saturated. This makes it a healthier option. However, it also means that the meat becomes dry when cooking.
Good source of B vitamins
Turkey meat is a good source of vitamins B3, B6, and B12. Overall, these vitamins help enzymes do their jobs and play a role in critical cell functions, like transporting nutrients throughout the body and breaking down carbohydrates. They also help form red blood cells and maintain healthy brain function.
Good source of minerals
Turkey’s meat is also rich in certain minerals. These include phosphorus, selenium, iron, and zinc, which are helpful in energy production and thyroid function and boost immunity and overall bone health.
Easy Turkey Mince Recipes That You Should Try
1. Pepper, houmous, and turkey burgers recipe
Let’s start with simple recipes, like this pepper, houmous, and turkey] burger. It’s a homemade burger, prepared with turkey mince, and can be barbecued or cooked on your hob. Once ready, serve with potatoes and some honey mustard spinach.
Ingredients
- 500g new potatoes, halved if large
- 500g turkey breast mince
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 10g fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 3½ tbsp olive oil
- 2 peppers, halved and deseeded
- 100g houmous
- 125g baby spinach
- ½ medium red onion, finely sliced
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp clear honey
- 4 white batch rolls
2. Turkey Mince Curry
Turkey Curry is a healthy and delicious recipe that’s perfect for any occasion. The dish goes pretty well with rice, bread, poppadoms, and sweet chili sauce combining turkey with peas, spinach, and passata.
Ingredients
- 1/2 tbs sunflower oil
- 1 onion – finely diced
- 3 tbs curry paste
- 500g minced turkey
- 400g passata
- 150g cherry tomatoes – roughly chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 200g baby spinach – roughly chopped
3. Sticky Asian Turkey Meatball Recipe
This turkey meatball recipe is Asian-inspired, so you can expect some exotic flavors. And like any good turkey dish, it’s low in calories, so you can take it even on a diet. How much time does it require to prepare? Not much! Only 10 minutes for prep and some 25 minutes to cook.
Ingredients
- or the meatballs:
- 500g 5% low fat fat turkey mince
- 1 tbsp fat-free yoghurt
- Pinch salt & pepper
- For the sauce:
- 4 tbsp Chinese rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp. sesame oil
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- Chilli paste
- To Serve:
- 1 tsp Sesame seeds
4. 15-Minute Turkey Stir Fry
This stir fry recipe is a tasty combination of protein-rich turkey meat and healthy veggies. It’s also easy to make, requiring only essential ingredients and some teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, and sriracha to enhance the flavor.
Ingredients
- 500 g turkey mince
- 220 g Tenderstem broccoli
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ tablespoons ginger minced
- For the sauce
- 120 g teriyaki sauce
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
- up to 3 tablespoons water
- For serving
- basmati rice
- chopped honey-roasted peanuts
- chopped spring onions
5. Thai turkey mince with rice
Here’s another minced Turkey recipe that gets everything right. The turkey and rice combination is simple and easy to prepare yet tasty enough to become a family favorite. It will take around 30 minutes to prepare the dish from start to finish.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp peanut oil
- 750g Inghams turkey mince
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 small red chilli, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup sweet chilli sauce
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/2 red onion, halved, finely sliced
- 1 cup fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped
- 4 iceberg lettuce leaves, shredded
- Steamed jasmine rice, to serve
- Lime wedges, to serve
- Select all ingredie
6. Turkey bolognese bake
Turkey bolognese bake looks good and tastes even better. The dish is a delicious combination of lean turkey mince, potatoes, chicken stock, and tomatoes, with some grated mozzarella and cheddar for some creamy goodness.
Ingredients
- 750g new potatoes (halved if large)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 25g butter
- 1 chopped onion
- 2 chopped celery sticks
- 2 chopped carrots
- 500g British free-range turkey thigh mince
- 3 crushed garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 2 tsp dried Mediterranean seasoning (we used Bart)
- 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
- 400ml chicken stock
- 75g mixed grated mozzarella and cheddar
- Fresh flatleaf parsley
7. Harissa-spiced meatballs with hummus and pomegranate seeds
Turkey meatballs are delicious, even more so when spiced with harissa paste and served with fluffy couscous. This recipe also adds pine nuts and pomegranate seeds to complete this exotic culinary experience.
Ingredients
- 500g turkey mince
- 1 tbsp harissa paste
- 2 banana shallots
- 1 garlic clove
- 40g fresh breadcrumbs
- 1 medium free-range egg
- 200g couscous
- 200ml boiling water
- 100g smooth houmous
- 40g toasted pine nuts
- A handful of soft herbs
- 100g pomegranate seeds
8. Speedy chili turkey stir-fry
This quick recipe will do the trick if you don’t have the time to whoop up something spectacular. It fries turkey thigh mince with other common ingredients in one pan to give you a delicious meal in less than 20 minutes, which you can serve with baked potatoes and basmati rice.
Ingredients
- A splash of oil
- 500g British free-range turkey thigh mince
- 1 grated carrot
- 200g tenderstem broccoli
- 1 chopped garlic clove
- 2cm piece fresh ginger, finely chopped
- ½ chopped red chilli
- 40g chilli jam/sweet chilli sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- sesame seeds
- sliced spring onions
- fresh coriander
- lime wedges, to serve
9. Warm turkey meatball noodle salad
Turkey meatballs in a bowl of vegetable salad are as healthy as it gets. Add a zingy citrus-ginger dressing, and you get a dish low on calories but doesn’t compromise the taste.
Ingredients
- 500g turkey thigh mince (2 per cent fat)
- 1 medium free-range egg white
- 4 spring onions, finely chopped
- ½ tsp chinese five-spice powder
- Handful fresh coriander, stalks chopped, leaves reserved
- ½ tsp fish sauce
- ¼ tsp crushed black pepper
- Frylight cooking oil spray
- 4 little gem lettuces, leaves separated
- ½ cucumber, halved lengthways, seeds removed and sliced into half-moons
- 380g pack Barenaked Noodles (contains 250g noodles, from Sainsbury’s and Morrisons)
- Handful fresh mint leaves, radishes chopped into matchsticks
10. Italian turkey burgers
Burgers are an excellent snack. And if you’re eager to try something new, you might want to swap beef patty with lean turkey mince. Then, serve your burger with capers and basil pesto to add an Italian touch. The experience will be worth the 40 minutes, or so it takes to prepare this Italian turkey burger.
Ingredients
- 500g turkey mince
- 1 chopped red onion
- 1 crushed garlic clove
- Grated zest 1 lemon
- 1 red chilli
- 1 large free-range egg
- 40g fresh breadcrumbs
- Olive oil
- 125g mozzarella
- 1 fennel bulb
- 1 tbsp capers
- 4 halved ciabatta rolls
- sesame seeds
- sliced spring onions
- basil pesto
11. Baked beans with turkey meatballs
Turkey meatballs are a healthier alternative to beef ones. Swap spaghetti with haricot beans cooked in a rich tomato sauce, and you end up with a healthy and delicious meal that can serve as your lunch and/or dinner pretty well.
Ingredients
- Olive oil for frying
- 1 red onion, roughly chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 500g free-range British turkey thigh mince
- 1 large free-range egg yolk
- 20g fresh oregano, leaves finely chopped, or 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 400g tin haricot beans, drained and rinsed
- Small bunch fresh flatleaf parsley, chopped, to serve
12. Creamy turkey, broad bean, and leek tagliatelle
This is a simple recipe that will take only 20 minutes of your time to prepare from start to finish. All you’ll need is turkey, leek tagliatelle, broad bean, and some common spices to taste.
Ingredients
- 25g butter
- 2 medium leeks, trimmed, sliced and washed
- A few thyme sprigs, plus extra to serve
- 250g tub mascarpone
- 450g dried egg tagliatelle
- 2 turkey breast steaks
- 150g fresh or frozen (and thawed) broad beans
13. Crispy chili turkey noodles
Noodles go pretty well with turkey. To prepare, you’ll need chili, noodles, soy, garlic, and turkey mince. The meal takes only 20 minutes to prepare. It’s quite delicious and as a healthy bonus. It’s low on fat.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 500g turkey mince
- 5cm piece ginger, grated
- 1 large garlic clove, crushed
- 3 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp hot sriracha chilli sauce
- 350g dried udon noodles
- 2 limes, juiced, plus wedges to serve (optional)
- 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 4 spring onions, shredded
- 1 small bunch coriander, sliced (optional)
14. Turkey bolognese pasta bake
This recipe will take an hour and a half before it’s ready to serve. However, if you have the time, it’s very much worth it. The recipe brings turkey mince and mascarpone together with tangy tomato and some creamy cheese sauce to make a dish that will quickly become a favorite at the dinner table.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 onions, finely chopped
- 500g turkey mince (thigh is best)
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
- 1 tbsp chipotle paste
- 300ml chicken stock
- 400g large pasta shells
- 250g tub mascarpone
- 200g cheddar, grated
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan
15. Slow cooker meatballs
Here’s another recipe that requires a little bit of patience. The ‘slow cooker meatballs’ require around an hour of prep time and will take about 5 hours to cook. However, the results make those five hours a small price to pay since the meatballs are delicious. Serve with spaghetti or rice.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, finely diced
- 2 celery sticks, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 500g carton tomato passata
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- For the meatballs
- 400g lean mince turkey
- 4 tbsp porridge oats
- pinch paprika
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- spray of oil
16. Easy turkey burgers
Time for some easy healthy burgers with a relatively short prep time. Since they only require regular ingredients, it will take around 30 minutes of your time to make 8 of these. So, you can have something ready for the whole family in no time. They can also be frozen for later in case some are left.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 85g porridge oats
- 450g/1lb minced turkey
- 100g dried apricot, finely chopped
- 1 large carrot, grated
- 1 egg, beaten
- cucumber slices, to serve
17. Turkey enchiladas
Are you trying to add some Mexican flavors to the dinner table? Well, here’s some good news; turkey enchiladas are very easy to make. A meal that serves four will take you less than an hour to prep and cook. It’s also very delicious and nutritious.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
- 500g turkey mince (2% fat)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and thinly sliced
- 400g can chopped tomatoes
- 400g can red kidney beans in chilli sauce
- 1 tbsp fresh lime or lemon juice
- 2 heaped tbsp roughly chopped coriander, plus extra to garnish
- 6 regular or 8 mini flour tortillas
- 50g reduced-fat mature cheddar, coarsely grated
- large mixed salad, to serve
18. Turkey, thyme & leek meatloaf
Meatloaf tastes great. Turkey meatloaf with thyme & leek tastes even better. It’s also very easy to make, requiring only a few ingredients that take about 10 minutes to prep and 20 to cook.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
- 4 large leeks , sliced
- 500g pack turkey mince
- 2 sprigs thyme , leaves removed
- 85g fresh breadcrumb
- 1 egg , beaten
- 2 rashers lean back bacon , fat trimmed, chopped
19. Meatball & garlic bread traybake
This far into the list, it’s already clear that there is a lot you can do with turkey meatballs. This recipe involves cooking mince turkey with a garlic bread traybake to make a delicious meal for the whole family to enjoy for dinner.
Ingredients
- 350g turkey thigh mince
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 1½ tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tbsp tomato puree
- 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
- 2 tsp sugar
- 150g ball mozzarella, torn into pieces
- 4 garlic breadsticks or garlic bread slices, torn or chopped into chunks
- 25g cheddar, grated
- green salad or spaghetti, to serve
20. Turkey, tomato, & butternut squash cannelloni
This cannelloni recipe swaps spinach and ricotta for turkey mince, tomato, and butternut squash as stuffings. You probably haven’t tasted such a combination before. But once you do, you can be sure it’s something you’ll keep returning to repeatedly.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 onion, peeled and finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
- 500 g turkey mince
- 1 large butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into approx. 1cm cubes
- 300 ml chicken stock
- 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 1/2 tsp. chopped thyme
- 1 tbsp. chopped parsley
- Zest ½ lemon
- 500 ml milk
- 1/2 tsp. chopped thyme
- 100 g Parmesan
- 120 g mozzarella
- 100 g sun-dried tomatoes, oil drained
- 8-10 cannelloni tubes
21. Stuffed shells with turkey, smoked mozzarella, and kale
You must try this recipe if you’re looking for interesting ways to enjoy your pasta. It uses the main ingredients of turkey mince, kale (or spinach), fresh ricotta, and smoked mozzarella cheese. You’ll also add tomato pasta sauce, onions, chili flakes, basil, and a couple of other spices to taste. These mesh together to bring the best out of your pasta dishes.
Ingredients
- Flaky sea salt
- 25 jumbo pasta shells (approx. 350g box)
- 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 75 g onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 tsp. red chilli flakes
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 225 g turkey mince, preferably dark meat
- 150 g frozen kale or spinach, thawed and water squeezed out
- 225 g fresh ricotta
- 30 g fresh basil, roughly chopped, plus more for serving
- 1 large egg
- 225 g smoked mozzarella cheese, grated
- 1 x 700g jar tomato pasta sauce
- 50 g freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
22. Turkey shepherd’s pie
A good shepherd’s pie makes for a satisfying meal. And if you’re eager to try something different, then make the turkey version. You can also add some veggies to make it healthier. Overall, a turkey mince shepherd pie is a light meal that will take about an hour and 30 minutes to make.
Ingredients
- 680 g potatoes, peeled
- Salt
- 4 tbsp. melted butter
- 60 ml milk
- 60 g sour cream
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 125 g grated cheddar cheese
- FOR FILLING
- 1 tbsp. extra-virigin olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 small parsnips, peeled and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 tsp. fresh thyme
- 1 tsp. fresh sage, crushed
- 180 ml dry white wine
- 680 g turkey mince
- 3 tbsp. plain flour
- 180 ml low-sodium turkey or chicken stock
- 1 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
Turkey burgers are delicious. They’re also healthier than beef burgers, allowing you to indulge without feeling guilty. So, you can expect this ‘best ever turkey burger’ to live up to its name and be one helluva treat.
Ingredients
- 450 g turkey mince
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- Hamburger buns
- Lettuce
- Sliced tomatoes
- Mayonnaise
24. Turkey Mince Tacos
If you want to try something new with your Tacos, try using turkey mince as the filling instead of beef mince. The result is finger-licking good, thanks to the flavor and freshness of the turkey mince filling. It’s also healthier.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 500g / 1.1 lb turkey mince
- 1 tablespoon Gran Luchito Smoky Chipotle Fajita & Taco Mix
- 5 spring onions (finely chopped)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper (for seasoning)
- 1 tablespoon tamari sauce
- 125ml / ½ cup orange juice
- ½ a lime (juice)
- 1 big handful fresh coriander (finely chopped)
- To Serve:
- Gran Luchito Soft Taco Wraps
- ½ a cabbage (shredded)
- 1 avocado (sliced)
- Gran Luchito Tomatillo Salsa
25. Turkey Burrito
What do you do with those leftovers from Thanksgiving and/or a Christmas feast? With this recipe, you just use them to make an even more delicious meal for lunch or dinner. Turkey Burrito combines all the flavors from the previous feast into one amazing wrap that everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 160g / 5 ½ oz brussel sprouts
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 handful of coriander, finely chopped
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons Gran Luchito Chipotle Mayo
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Burritos:
- 1 pack of Gran Luchito Refried Beans
- 4 Gran Luchito Burrito Wraps
- 400g / 14 oz leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken
- 1 jar of Gran Luchito Fire Roasted Serranos
What’s your favorite turkey mince recipe?
Turkey is one of the best meat options out there. It comes with all the benefits of poultry meat and even edges out common poultry alternatives, like chicken, on nutritional value. And as you’ve seen, there are many ways to enjoy your turkey mince. Of all these healthy turkey recipes, which one are you eager to try the most?
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