We love a good stir fry recipe in our house. They are one of our go-tos when we want something easy, protein and veggie-packed, ready in no time. And this ground turkey stir fry hits on all those notes!
It’s loaded with 4 kinds of vegetables, lean protein, and a sweet and savory sauce that makes it all come together. Plus it adds a little kick that makes the dish. The best thing about stir fries is they are super customizable. Follow the recipe as is, or swap out your favorite protein and veggies. Spice it up more or skip it. It all works!
Make this stir fry for a healthy weeknight dinner or meal prep – the flavors get even better as it sits. We love serving this over some white rice to absorb the sauce, but you can totally eat it as is.
Why we love this ground turkey stir fry
- comes together in 30 minutes
- a one-pan dish – less clean-up is always a win!
- packed with protein, vegetables, fiber, vitamins, and minerals for a nutrient-dense meal
- is super customizable – add more vegetables or change up the meat to easily use what you have on hand.
- great for meal prep – the leftovers taste great and it works well for meal prep.
Ingredients
- olive oil
- garlic
- grated ginger
- ground turkey
- onion
- carrots
- green beans
- bell pepper
- salt and pepper
How to make ground turkey stir fry
- Make the stir-fry sauce. Add all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl or jar and mix to combine. Adjust according to taste. Set aside.
- Cook the turkey. Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-low heat, add oil, and let it get hot. Add the ginger and garlic and saute, constantly stirring, for 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful it doesn’t burn. Then add your turkey, breaking it up with a spatula or meat chopper. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes until browned on the outside and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté your veggies. Leaving the juices in the pan, add the onion, carrots, and a pinch of salt and pepper and saute for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Next, add the green beans, peppers, and a little more salt and pepper and mix well to combine. Saute for another 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Bring it all together. Add back your turkey (along with its juices) and your stir-fry sauce. Mix well to combine and let warm through, about 1-2 minutes, or until veggies are cooked to your liking.
- Enjoy! Top with optional toppings and serve with sides of choice. I suggest spooning some of the sauce over the stir fry and rice (if serving with it).
Stir Fry Sauce
What is a good stir fry without a good sauce? This asian inspired sauce is sweet, tangy, and has a little spice to it.
Stir fry sauce ingredients:
- coconut aminos
- lime juice
- honey
- toasted sesame oil
- fish sauce
- rice wine vinegar
- red pepper flakes
- pepper
Simply mix the ingredients together in a small jar or bowl. Adjust according to taste. This can be easily made ahead of time and stored on the counter or fridge for a few days until you are ready to use. The flavors get better as it sits!
What to serve with stir fry
While you can eat this meal on its own, it is on the low-carb end for some. I like to serve it with some carbs to balance it out. Here are a few suggestions:
- any kind of grains – white rice, brown rice, and quinoa are all great for soaking up the sauce
- cauliflower rice – a good option to keep it lower carb
- overtop noodles – try rice or ramen noodles
- roasted potatoes
Meal prep ground turkey stir fry
- partial prep #1 – make the sauce and prep your veggies by slicing them. Store in separate containers in the fridge. When you are ready, make your turkey. Continue with the directions as written. Making the sauce and slicing veggies in advance will save you 5 or so minutes when fully assembling.
- partial prep #2 – make the sauce, cut up your veggies, and cook the turkey. Store them in separate containers in the fridge. When you are ready to assemble, saute your veggies and then add your turkey and sauce. Making the sauce and the meat mixture and slicing the veggies in advance will save you 10-15 minutes when fully assembling.
Storage
- fridge – store leftovers in a tightly sealed airtight container for up to 4-5 days in the fridge.
- freezer – I haven’t tried freezing this recipe, but it should work. You can freeze the whole recipe in a large container or in individual servings. It should last up to 3 months in the freezer.
- reheating – to heat it up, pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes until warmed through. You can also reheat it on the stovetop.
Substitutions and additions
- oil – any kind of neutral oil will work (coconut, avocado…).
- fresh ginger and garlic – I like fresh for the best flavor but you can use garlic powder or ground ginger instead. Use 1 teaspoon of each.
- ground turkey – you can use any ground meat or fat percentage you like. Ground beef, chicken, or pork would work great. Try not to use too lean of meat though as it is what helps give the recipe more flavor.
- veggies – use any veggies you like! The more the merrier. Cabbage, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, mushrooms, and water chestnuts would be good substitutes or additions.
- coconut aminos – low sodium soy sauce or tamari will work instead, it will just change the flavor a bit. Using either one of those will lower the carbs in the recipe. If using soy sauce, the recipe will not be gluten-free. Do not use liquid aminos as they are way too salty.
- honey – maple syrup will work instead.
More healthy ground turkey recipes
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Ground Turkey Stir Fry
ingredients
Stir Fry
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 pound ground turkey ( used 93/7)
- 1 cup sliced onions (105 grams)
- 1 heaping cup julienned carrots (125 grams)
- 2 cups roughly chopped green beans (225 grams)
- 2 cups julienned bell pepper (220 grams)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- for topping: green onion, cilantro, lime juice, sesame seeds…
- for topping: green onion, cilantro, lime juice, sesame seeds…
Stir Fry Sauce
- 3 tablespoons coconut aminos
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- pinch of pepper
instructions
- Make the stir-fry sauce. Combine the coconut aminos, lime juice, honey, sesame oil, fish sauce, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl or jar. Adjust according to taste. Set aside.
- Cook the turkey. Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-low heat, add oil, and let it get hot. Add the ginger and garlic and saute, constantly stirring, for 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful it doesn’t burn. Then add your turkey, breaking it up with a spatula or meat chopper. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes until browned on the outside and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté your veggies. Leaving the juices in the pan, add the onion, carrots, and a pinch of salt and pepper and saute for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Next, add the green beans, peppers, and a little more salt and pepper and mix well to combine. Saute for another 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Bring it all together. Add back your turkey (along with its juices) and your stir-fry sauce. Mix well to combine and let warm through, about 1-2 minutes, or until veggies are cooked to your liking.
- Enjoy! Top with optional toppings and serve with sides of choice. I suggest spooning some of the sauce over the stir fry and rice (if serving with it).
Tiffany B says
Made this for dinner tonight and it’s delicious!
Kelly Nardo says
Happy to hear that! Thanks, Tiffany!
Natalia says
I make this recipe pretty much every week! It’s quick and delicious! Try it!
Kelly Nardo says
Happy to hear that, Natalia! Thanks for trying it!
Dad says
Really good
Kelly says
Glad you enjoyed it!!