There are so many upsides to following a low-calorie diet. You get to satisfy your hunger guilt-free, eat healthy, nourishing foods, and hit your weight loss goals at the same time. Eating a low-calorie diet is one of the most effective ways to lose weight.
But the biggest secret is using the right ingredients to create meals that help you stay full and satiated with plenty of calories to spare.
Today, I’m sharing a roundup of low-calorie ground turkey recipes you can easily meal prep and make at home. Many of these recipes with ground turkey can be prepared in under 30 minutes (some even 20 minutes!).
Low-Calorie Ground Turkey Recipes
When it comes to low calorie high protein meals, lean ground turkey is one of the popular ingredients used. It’s versatile and a great alternative to ground beef or other higher calorie protein options.
How Much Calories In A Pound of Ground Turkey
In 1 pound of ground turkey, there are 676 calories: 37.47g of Fat, 0g carbs, and 79.2g of protein.
10 Low-Calorie Recipes for Ground Turkey
Looking for ground turkey meal prep ideas? Enjoy these healthy ground turkey recipes below.
Stuffed Acorn Squash with Ground Turkey
Ingredients
1 Acorn squash – 172 calories
4 oz Ground turkey, 93% lean, raw – 172 calories
½ cup Mushrooms, small, whole or sliced – 8 calories
¼ cup Cheese, Parmesan, shaved (cups) – 83 calories
2 cups Leafy greens, lettuce, raw – 10 calories
1 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar – 14 calories
¼ tsp Salt – 0 calories
¼ tsp Pepper, ground – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2
Pierce the skin the squash with fork at least 4 times and microwave for 4 minutes.
Step 3
Once cooled, slice the squash in half and scoop out the seeds
Step 4
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the squash flesh side down on baking sheet and cook in oven for 20 minutes.
Step 5
Spray a pan with an oil spray and cook ground meat until cooked through on medium heat, ~8 minutes. Add in ½ mushrooms (chopped). Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
Step 6
Once squash has cooked, remove from oven and flip to be flesh side up. Spoon in ground meat & mushroom mixture, top with cheese.
Step 7
Place the squash back in the oven for 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
Step 8
To make side salad: mix ½ mushrooms, lettuce, and vinegar.
Step 9
No meat? Use beans.
Turkey Burgers Plate
Ingredients
4 oz Ground Turkey, 99% lean, raw – 110 calories
1 Apple, medium – 95 calories
3 Carrots, whole, large – 75 calories
1 Cheese, string cheese, cheddar, full fat/ regular – 80 calories
1 Tbsp Creamy dressing (e.g. ranch), regular (more than 50 calories per 2 tbsp) – 74 calories
⅛ tsp Garlic salt – 0 calories
1 tsp Hot sauce (tsp) – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1
Mix together hot sauce, garlic salt & ground turkey
Step 2
Form into turkey burgers (1 patty per 2 oz ground turkey)
Step 3
Spray a baking sheet with an oil spray, bake burgers for 12-15 minutes at 400 degrees F (make sure internal temperature is 165 degrees F)
Step 4
Slice carrots and apple
Step 5
Arrange all foods on a plate & enjoy!
Step 6
No meat? Use white beans. No dairy? Use vinaigrette instead of creamy dressing, and avocado instead of cheddar cheese.
Turkey Meatballs Bowl
Ingredients
8 oz Ground Turkey, 99% lean, raw – 220 calories
⅓ cup Cheese, shredded, cheddar – 152 calories
⅛ Red Onions – 6 calories
2 Tbsp Parsley, fresh – 0 calories
2 tsp Avocado oil (tsp) – 82 calories
⅛ tsp Garlic salt – 0 calories
⅛ tsp Pepper, ground – 0 calories
2 cups Mixed greens – 20 calories
1 Tbsp Red wine vinegar (Tbsp) – 3 calories
Instructions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Step 2
Cook rice as instructed on package
Step 3
Chop parsley finely, dice onion
Step 4
In a bowl, mix ground turkey, parsley, cheddar cheese, red onions, and seasonings
Step 5
Mold into small meatball shapes
Step 6
Add oil to an oven-safe pan, add in meatballs in a single layer, and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until your meatballs have cooked through (check them!)
Step 7
Serve meatballs with greens and rice, top with red wine vinegar and more seasonings if you like
Step 8
No meat? Use mashed beans (you’ll likely need less cooking time, watch them!). No dairy? Top your bowl with diced avocado at the end.
Step 9
Rice is not included in this recipe although it’s in the picture – if you want to add rice, just track it!
Asian Inspired Ground Turkey Stir Fry
Ingredients
1 Egg, large – 72 calories
4 oz Ground turkey, 93% lean, raw – 172 calories
½ Bell pepper, red, medium – 19 calories
1 cup Green beans – 31 calories
1 cup Leafy greens, spinach, raw – 7 calories
2 tsp Olive oil (tsp) – 80 calories
1 Tbsp Soy sauce (Tbsp) – 10 calories
1 tsp Garlic, minced (tsp) – 0 calories
1 tsp Sesame seeds (tsp) – 13 calories
Instructions
Step 1
Slice pepper into thin strips
Step 2
Chop off hard ends of green beans, and cut them in halves to make them shorter
Step 3
Add oil and garlic to a pan
Step 4
Stir fry ground turkey, green beans, and bell pepper ~8 minutes on medium heat, stirring frequently, until ground beef is cooked through
Step 5
Once turkey has cooked through, add in soy sauce and spinach, and mix in for another 1 minute
Step 6
While stir fry is cooking, spray a separate non-stick pan with an oil spray. Crack in egg, let fry ~3 minutes on medium heat, until cooked to your desired consistency
Step 7
Transfer stir fry to a plate, top with fried egg and sesame seeds
Step 8
No meat? Use tofu or beans.
Turkey Meatloaf Skillet
Ingredients
4 cups Leafy greens, spinach, raw – 28 calories
4 oz Ground turkey, raw – 185 calories
1 Tbsp Ketchup (no sugar added) – 10 calories
¼ cup Tomatoes, canned, crushed – 13 calories
¼ Onion, yellow, large – 14 calories
1 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, grated (Tbsp) – 17 calories
1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) – 119 calories
¼ tsp Salt – 0 calories
¼ tsp Pepper, ground – 0 calories
½ tsp Garlic, minced (tsp) – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1
Dice onion.
Step 2
Add oil to a pan. Add garlic and onion to the pan, and stir fry until translucent ~4 minutes, on medium heat.
Step 3
Add in ground turkey, stir fry until no longer pink, ~7 minutes.
Step 4
Add in ketchup, crushed tomatoes, Parm, and salt & pepper. Stir occasionally on low heat ~3 minutes.
Step 5
Add spinach to a bowl, top with “meatloaf” stir fry.
Step 6
No turkey? Use ground chicken, fish, tofu, or beans. No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese, or a little more oil.
Bell Pepper Subs with Hearty Sauce
Ingredients
1 Bell pepper, red, medium – 37 calories
4 oz Ground turkey, 93% lean, raw – 172 calories
½ cup Tomatoes, canned, crushed – 25 calories
⅓ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella – 112 calories
¼ tsp Basil, dried – 0 calories
¼ tsp Salt – 0 calories
¼ tsp Pepper, ground – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2
Spray a pan with an oil spray.
Step 3
Cook ground turkey on medium-low heat for ~8 minutes or until no longer pink.
Step 4
Add in tomatoes and spices for ~2 minutes.
Step 5
Cut red bell pepper into medium-sized slices.
Step 6
Top bell peppers with sauce and cheese.
Step 7
Bake in the oven for ~10 minutes.
Step 8
No cheese? Use dairy-free cheese or bacon bits (regular, turkey, or soy).
5 Ingredient Taco Skillet
Ingredients
4 oz Ground beef, 90% lean, raw – 185 calories
½ cup Beans & legumes, pinto or black bean, cooked – 123 calories
1 Zucchini, medium – 33 calories
¼ cup Cheese, Mexican, shredded – 114 calories
¼ Avocado, small – 58 calories
1 tsp Taco seasoning – 5 calories
Instructions
Step 1
Spice zucchini into small pieces.
Step 2
Spray a pan with an oil spray.
Step 3
Stir fry ground beef on medium heat until cooked through.
Step 4
Add in zucchini, black beans, and seasoning. Stir fry for another ~5 minutes, until zucchini has softened.
Step 5
Top with cheese, and cover your pan with a lid to let the cheese melt.
Step 6
When you’re ready to eat, dice avocado and top your meal with it. Enjoy!
Step 7
No meat? Use more beans. No dairy? Use more avocado.
Barbecue Ground Turkey
Ingredients
8 oz Ground Turkey, 99% lean, raw – 220 calories
3 cups Mixed veggies, non-starchy, frozen – 100 calories
1 tsp Avocado oil (tsp) – 41 calories
⅛ tsp Red pepper flakes – 0 calories
2 Tbsp Barbeque sauce, unsweetened – 15 calories
Instructions
Step 1
Add oil to a pan.
Step 2
Stir fry ground turkey until cooked through, on medium heat.
Step 3
Add in frozen vegetables, stir fry on medium heat until they are cooked through. Turn heat to low & continue cooking so any liquid evaporates.
Step 4
Top with seasonings and barbecue sauce, and enjoy!
Step 5
No meat? Use pinto beans.
Basic Turkey Chili
Ingredients
8 oz Ground Turkey, 99% lean, raw – 220 calories
¾ cup Cauliflower rice, frozen – 20 calories
1 cup Canned, diced tomatoes – 56 calories
1 Zucchini, medium – 33 calories
2 tsp Avocado oil (tsp) – 82 calories
⅛ tsp Salt – 0 calories
1 tsp Taco seasoning – 5 calories
Instructions
Step 1
Add oil to a pot, and stir-fry ground turkey until cooked through
Step 2
Chop zucchini into small/medium chunks
Step 3
Add in zucchini and cauliflower rice to your pot, cook through
Step 4
Add in tomatoes and seasonings, and let simmer
Step 5
Enjoy!
Wondering what other meal ideas you can try that’s low-calorie? Get a load of this list of high volume low calorie foods!
