Ground Turkey Stir Fry
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This easy and healthy ground turkey stir-fry is coming in hot and just in time for all of you who need dinner in under 30 minutes! It's made with fresh bell peppers, scallions, hoisin, and ginger.
Why we love this easy ground turkey stir fry recipe
Having a go-to recipe for hectic nights is pretty much what every busy family needs. This ground turkey stir-fry with peppers and hoisin definitely fits the bill.
We came up with the idea for this meal because we love making stir-fry recipes as they come together so fast. One of our favorites is our 20-minute ground pork stir-fry. And we love cooking weeknight meals with ground turkey because it is a healthy lean protein that cooks up super fast. Try our ground turkey enchiladas for another weeknight winner. So this recipe came out of the love for those two things: a stir-fry with ground turkey!
There are a bunch of reasons we have been enjoying this one lately. To name just a few:
- It is head-slapping easy! Seriously, very little prep and it takes only 25 minutes to make.
- You'll find all the savory taste of take-out from a restaurant, but no specialty ingredients!
- It features ground turkey, which is a great break from boneless skinless chicken breast, yet still very lean, healthy, and easy to prepare.
- It's packed with veggies so that means you get both the protein and veggies in one dish!
- The sweet hoisin sauce makes it totally kid-friendly. We've tested it on our own young taste testers and they gave it two thumbs up!
Serve it with white or brown rice and you have a complete meal that the whole family will love and it will be that go-to recipe you pull out for busy nights.
Ingredients for this ground turkey stir fry recipe
Sauce
- Hoisin sauce
- Chicken broth
- Dry sherry or Shaoxing wine
- White vinegar
- Cornstarch
For The Stir-fry
- High-heat cooking oil such as grapeseed or avocado oil
- Aromatics: Garlic, Onion, Ginger
- Ground turkey
- Red and yellow bell peppers
Garnish
- Scallions
- Sesame seeds
Step-by-step instructions for ground turkey stir-fry
Step 1: Make the sauce
Before you begin cooking, make sure to prep all of your ingredients. Then, whisk the sauce together in a small dish.
Step 2: Saute the aromatics
Heat a little oil in a wok or large skillet then briefly stir-fry the garlic, onion, and ginger.
Step 3: Brown the ground turkey
Now add the ground turkey and cook it for several minutes, crumbling the meat as it cooks.
Step 4: Add in the peppers and sauce
Add the peppers and sauce to the pan and stir just until the peppers are tender and the sauce is thick.
Step 5: Remove from the heat and garnish
All that you have to do now is stir in some scallions (green onions) and sprinkle some sesame seeds on top before you serve dinner. So easy!
Recipe FAQs
What is the key to pan-frying ground turkey?
The key to browning turkey in a skillet is to prevent it from letting off too much moisture as it cooks so that it browns. Some ways to help ensure that it browns well is to choose a large skillet or wok so that it doesn't get crowded. When a pan is too full, the temperature drops and this causes the turkey to let off too much liquid, and won't brown. You can also check to make sure to preheat your skillet well. And lastly, do not stir it too much at first. Once you add it to the skillet or wok, give it a minute or two to brown on the bottom before you start to crumble it apart.
Is ground turkey healthy?
Ground turkey is a lean, healthy, and convenient protein source. It is sold in 85%, 90%, 93% and 99% lean. Choose leaner grounds for lower calories and less fat. It is generally lower in saturated fat than ground beef.
Ground turkey stir fry variations to try
- If you do not like bell peppers, try diced zucchini, mushrooms, or broccoli.
- This recipe also works with ground chicken, beef, or pork. If your pork is fatty, drain off the meat before adding in the sauce and peppers.
- You can substitute a store-bought stir-fry sauce instead of the hoisin mixture. Teriyaki is yummy!
More healthy & easy stir-fry recipes
If you are also a fan of stir-fries then make sure to check out some more of our favorites!
- This chicken teriyaki stir-fry with veggies is another favorite with our family.
- You'll also love this ground beef stir-fry with ginger and garlic sauce.
- Another option is this spring noodle stir fry with lemon sesame sauce.
- This Asian vegetable noodle stir-fry with tofu is another family-friendly dinner idea.
- We love our pork chops, so obviously, we had to come up with a pork chop stir fry too!
Thanks so much for reading. If you make this recipe, please come back and let me know by leaving a star rating and review!
Ground Turkey Stir Fry Recipe
Ingredients
- Ā½ cup chicken broth
- Ā¼ cup hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon dry sherry (can sub Shaoxing wine)
- 2 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoon high-heat cooking oil (such as grape seed or avocado oil)
- 3 cloves Ā garlic (minced)
- 1 small onion (finely chopped )
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 each red and yellow pepper (diced)
- 1 cup chopped scallions ((about Ā½ bunch))
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (toasted if desired)
Instructions
- Whisk together the broth, hoisin, sherry, vinegar, and cornstarch in a small dish.Ā½ cup chicken broth, Ā¼ cup hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon dry sherry, 2 teaspoon white vinegar, 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet or wok over high heat. Add the garlic, onion, and ginger and stir-fry until the onion is starting to soften and turns translucent, about 3 minutes.2 tablespoon high-heat cooking oil, 3 cloves Ā garlic, 1 small onion, 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- Add the turkey and break it apart with a spatula. Cook, crumbling the meat as it cooks until it is only pink in a couple of spots, about 5 to 6 minutes.1 pound ground turkey
- Add in the peppers and the sauce and cook, stirring often, until the peppers are tender and the sauce is thick, 5 to 6 minutes.1 each red and yellow pepper
- Stir in the scallions and remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle the stir fry with sesame seeds before serving.1 cup chopped scallions, 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Notes
Leftovers and Reheating
- Leftovers can be kept in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Make sure to reheat until steaming hot.
- The stir-fry can be reheated in a non-stick skillet, covered.
- If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of broth.
- It can also be heated in the microwave on high heat for 2 minutes per portion.Ā
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our turkey recipes!
