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Ground turkey sautéed with red and yellow bell peppers and fresh herbs in a white bowl.

Ground Turkey and Peppers


  • Author: Samantha Brooks
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

This Ground Turkey and Peppers recipe is a quick, flavorful skillet meal that is perfect for busy weeknights. It combines juicy ground turkey with sweet bell peppers and savory onions, all seasoned with a smoky kick of chipotle for a simple yet satisfying dinner. With tender meat and vibrant vegetables, this protein-packed dish is delicious served over rice or simply enjoyed on its own.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • Chopped greens from green onions (optional)
  • 1 bell pepper (red or yellow preferred), chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 pound ground turkey (preferably ground turkey thighs)
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle powder or chili powder (or to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro

Instructions

Sauté Vegetables
Heat 2 tablespoons of the extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and bell pepper. Cook for a few minutes until the onions and peppers are softened.

Add Garlic
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds longer, until fragrant.

Create Space
Push the cooked vegetables to the edge of one side of the pan. Carefully position the pan so that the veggie side is off the direct heat, while the empty side sits directly over the burner.

Add Turkey
Add 1 to 2 more tablespoons of oil to the empty, hot side of the pan. Add the ground turkey in crumpled chunks. Sprinkle the meat with salt and the chipotle (or chili) powder.

Brown the Meat
Let the turkey cook without stirring initially until it is well-browned on the bottom. Then, flip the pieces over to brown the other side. This ensures flavor development rather than just steaming the meat.

Combine
Once the turkey is cooked through, stir the vegetables back into the meat. Taste and sprinkle with more salt and chipotle powder if desired. Remove from heat.

Finish
Stir in the fresh chopped parsley (or cilantro) and the green onion tops. Serve hot over steamed rice, noodles, or greens.

Notes

The “Push Aside” Technique: Moving the vegetables off the heat while browning the meat prevents the moisture from the veggies from steaming the turkey. This ensures you get nice, flavorful browned bits on the meat rather than a grey, chewy texture.

Meat Selection: Ground turkey thighs (dark meat) are highly recommended for this recipe. They have a higher fat content than breast meat, which keeps the dish juicy and flavorful during the high-heat sauté.

Serving Options: This is a versatile base. Serve it over rice for a bowl, toss it with pasta, or spoon it into lettuce cups for a low-carb lunch.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Sauté/Skillet
  • Cuisine: American / Healthy

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 295
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 280mg
  • Fat: 21g
  • Saturated Fat: 5g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 5g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 22g
  • Cholesterol: 80mg

Keywords: ground turkey skillet, healthy turkey recipes, turkey and peppers, 20 minute dinner, gluten free dairy free dinner, easy ground turkey meal, chipotle turkey