You only need one skillet and 20 minutes to make this light but filling Ground Turkey Stir Fry. Prepared veggies make it a snap to throw together while keeping it healthy and wholesome. With so many options for how to serve it and easy ways to dress it up with extras it’s a meal you can serve every week and never get tired of!
Ground Turkey Stir Fry – The EASY Way!
If you are in need of that go-to weeknight meal that never disappoints, this is it! It makes a regular appearance in our house and for a good reason. By definition, stir fry is the technique of using high heat to quickly cook meat and vegetables – it’s like it was built for busy families!
Ground turkey is our lean healthy protein of choice for this recipe. Simply combining it with cabbage and frozen vegetables creates a dinner you can feel good about serving your family. I love sharing these good, wholesome meals that won’t take hours to prepare.
Plus I guarantee that ground turkey stir fry delivers a mouthful of flavor in every bite. You can be sure kids and adults will clean their plates and leave the table satisfied every time. And since it is a one pan meal, clean up will be as easy as the cooking!
Why I LOVE this recipe
- So fast! – With easy prep and a fast cook time, you’ll need only twenty minutes from start to finish to get this tasty meal on the table.
- Healthy – Lean protein and a mix of your favorite vegetables pack every bite with nutrition and flavor.
- Filling – It feels light and wholesome, but is actually super filling! An easy ground turkey stir fry is substantial enough to serve on its own, or pair with a simple side to feed a big family, no problem.
- Family Friendly – Who doesn’t love stir fry? Everyone will be happy with the simple, satisfying flavors of lightly caramelized cabbage and turkey. But you can also put out some equally easy sauces and toppings so kids can have fun making it their own!
- Versatile– Serve it over rice, use cauliflower rice to keep it healthy, or ditch the fork and wrap it in lettuce. This meal is flexible for whatever style your family likes!
Recipe Notes
This easy ground turkey stir fry recipe is as simple as promised! By choosing pre-shredded and frozen vegetables to stir fry all you will need is 20 minutes and a hot pan for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use when making this recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients
- Ground turkey – Any ground turkey, either lean or extra lean, will give you great results.
- Cabbage – Shred your own, or save time with a bag of pre-washed and pre-sliced. I used a tri-color coleslaw blend, but any cabbage will do.
- Frozen vegetables – Talk about a time saver! No need to thaw them, the heat of the pan will do all the work for you. It is one of my favorite hacks for quick meals.
You can also use any blend you like. We opted for peas and carrots, but those with corn, green beans, or broccoli are also great. - Soy Sauce – Traditional or low sodium options work equally well. Or, if you would like your stir fry to be gluten-free, opt for liquid aminos.
- Sesame Oil – This is one thing that you may not have in your pantry. You can use canola or any other cooking oil and it’ll work just fine! But, if you can find it, sesame gives this ground turkey cabbage stir fry that authentic Asian flavor.
You can usually find bottles near the other cooking oils, or check the ethnic aisle near the other Asian ingredients. - Eggs – Feel free to omit for allergies or egg-free diets. You can also add extra eggs if you really want to make this recipe protein rich.
- Onion
- Garlic
Recipe Tips
- Prep your ingredients– This recipe moves FAST, so having everything , prepped, out, and ready to go will help prevent any mishaps or over cooking.
- Drain the turkey! After cooking, there will likely be liquid in the pan. To get that good browning (which means good flavor!) make sure you drain off all the liquid you can before adding the other other ingredients.
- Use a LARGE skillet. Avoid frustrating moments of difficult stirring or spilling by starting with your largest skillet. It will fill up quick! It also gives everything plenty of space to brown properly.
- Don’t stir the veggies! At least not at first. Spread them out over the hot skillet and cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes to start that yummy caramelization.
- Adjust soy sauce for flavor – If your family prefers a lighter soy flavor, go easy on how much you add. Or, feel free to add more for a bigger punch!
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Prep the turkey ahead– You can cook the turkey up to 3 days in advance to save a bit of time when you need to get dinner on the table fast.
- Use prepped turkey from the freezer – This seasoned ground turkey is great for this!
- Use powdered onion and garlic – Skip the cutting board all together! Season your ground turkey with granulated onion, and add granulated garlic to the veggies. I love the flavor of fresh, but if you are in a pinch for time, this can save you a little.
- Use leftover veggies – Have a bowl of steamed broccoli or peas from the night before? Toss those in and cut the veggie cooking time down by a few minutes. Make sure they are neutral (garlic, butter, salt & pepper, etc)or asian flavored for the best.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Make it spicy – The simple addition of sriracha or sweet chili sauce can make this spicy for families with adventurous kids!
- Add toppings – Dress it up with chopped peanuts, sesame seeds, green onions or a tasty sauce. Yum yum sauce and spicy mayo are my favorites! You could even offer several to let the whole family customize their plates.
- Use ground chicken, beef, or pork – There is no reason that this recipe would not work with whatever ground meat you have on hand and still be just as delicious.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Ground turkey stir fry can be easily prepared as a freezer meal to enjoy on another busy night, or share with a friend in need.
- Cook it completely.
- Allow it to cool.
- Package in a freezer bag or container.
- Freeze.
- When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Reheat with a splash of water in a large skillet over medium high heat. When it’s hot throughout, serve.
For best flavor, you can freeze this for up to 6 months.
What to Serve with Healthy Ground Turkey Stir Fry
Since this dish has the classic flavors of your favorite takeout, it will pair well with many of your favorite traditional Asian side dishes. There are both classic options and some healthier choices if you would rather keep it light.
Starches are a great way to stretch this to feed a crowd. Or, you can keep your ground turkey stir fry keto compliant by serving it with even more veggies or healthy greens.
Side Dish Ideas
- Rice – Serve scoops of stir fried ground turkey over a simple bowl of freshly steamed rice and dinner is complete. Use white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice to keep it light.
- Noodles – Refrigerated udon noodles or dried ramen noodles are a quick cooking, tasty base for a skillet meal like this one.
- Sautéed Green Beans – Adding a splash of soy sauce, chili sauce, or garlic makes this a perfect side.
- Sautéed Spinach – Light and super quick stove top spinach is easy to make and serve.
- Side Salads – Either a simple green salad with ginger dressing or a batch of my Spicy Sriracha Asian coleslaw would be tasty.
You can choose one or add a few sides to make a wholesome, well rounded dinner.
Ground Turkey Stir Fry Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making ground turkey stir fry, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Stuffed Peppers – Either top the peppers or slice them in half and remove the ribs and seeds. Add in your leftover ground turkey cabbage stir fry and bake, covered, at 350°F for 30 to 40 minutes, until the peppers are tender.
- Lettuce wraps – This could not be easier. Use a nice, wide leaf lettuce like butter, bibb, or romaine and reheat as much of your Asian ground turkey stir fry as you like to fill them up. This is perfect for quick lunches!
- Fried Rice – Have leftover rice too? Just combine your side and dinner from the night before in a large skillet with a few splashes of water or oil. Stir until warmed through and add another splash of soy for flavor. Dinner just got the easiest makeover ever! You can check out my 15 minute chicken fried rice or my tasty steak fried rice for inspiration.
More Stovetop Dinner Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy dinner ideas here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Chicken Taco Tortellini Skillet
- Blackened Chicken Thighs
- Garlic Steak Skillet
- Sizzling Steak Fajitas
Ground Turkey Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds lean ground turkey
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil, divided in half
- 4 cups tri-color coleslaw mix, or shredded cabbage
- 12 ounces frozen mixed vegetables
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- salt & pepper, to taste
Garnish (optional)
- spicy mayo
- yum yum sauce
- sliced green onions
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat with one tablespoon of vegetable oil. Saute the onion and ground turkey until the onion is clear and the turkey is cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess liquid and remove the turkey and onion and set aside.
- Return the skillet to stove on medium high heat. Add the remaining vegetable oil, coleslaw mix, garlic, and frozen vegetables. Let cook for 3-4 minutes then stir and continue to cook until the cabbage softens, about 3 more minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low. Push the veggies to the side, add the meat back into the skillet on the other side. Add the sesame oil to the bottom of the skillet and crack the eggs onto the leftover space. Scramble the eggs until they are almost done, then pour the soy sauce over the skillet and stir continuously until everything is well mixed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve topped with your choice of sliced green onions, and either yum yum sauce or spicy mayo (my choice!)
Recipe Notes
- Ground turkey – Any ground turkey, either lean or extra lean, will give you great results.
- Cabbage – Shred your own, or save time with a bag of pre-washed and pre-sliced. I used a tri-color coleslaw blend, but any cabbage will do.
- Frozen vegetables – You can also use any blend you like. We opted for peas and carrots, but those with corn, green beans, or broccoli are also great.
- Soy Sauce – Traditional or low sodium options work equally well. Or, if you would like your stir fry to be gluten-free, opt for liquid aminos.
- Sesame Oil – This is one thing that you may not have in your pantry. You can use canola or any other cooking oil and it’ll work just fine! But, if you can find it, sesame gives this ground turkey cabbage stir fry that authentic Asian flavor.
- Eggs – Feel free to omit for allergies or egg-free diets. You can also add extra eggs if you really want to make this recipe protein rich.
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
- Cook it completely.
- Allow it to cool.
- Package in a freezer bag or container.
- Freeze.
- When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Reheat with a splash of water in a large skillet over medium high heat. When it’s hot throughout, serve
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