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Honey Garlic Ground Turkey Recipe

4.5 from 52 reviews

This honey garlic ground turkey recipe is a quick, flavorful weeknight dinner that combines sweet honey, savory soy sauce, and fresh garlic to create a sticky glaze coating lean ground turkey. Ready in 25 minutes, it’s perfect served over rice, noodles, or in lettuce cups for a versatile and satisfying meal everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

  • 1 lb ground turkey (lean or extra-lean)

Sauce

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Additional

  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil (canola or avocado)

Instructions

  1. Heat the skillet: Place a large skillet on medium-high heat and add one tablespoon of neutral oil like canola or avocado oil, which have high smoke points and mild flavors to avoid overpowering the dish.
  2. Brown the ground turkey: Add the ground turkey to the hot skillet. Break it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks, stirring frequently until the turkey is golden brown and no longer pink, about 6–7 minutes. Keep the turkey crumbly for the best texture.
  3. Add garlic for flavor: Reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about one minute, stirring constantly to prevent burning and bitterness while releasing fragrant flavors.
  4. Mix the sauce: While the turkey cooks, whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and optional red pepper flakes in a small bowl until smooth and combined.
  5. Combine turkey and sauce: Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet with the turkey. Stir thoroughly to coat all the turkey evenly, then allow it to simmer for 3–5 minutes so the sauce thickens and clings to the meat with a glossy, sticky finish.
  6. Finish with green onions: Stir in most of the sliced green onions, reserving some to garnish, then remove the skillet from heat.
  7. Serve and enjoy: Spoon the honey garlic ground turkey over steamed rice, noodles, or in crisp lettuce cups. Garnish with the reserved green onions and optional sesame seeds for extra crunch and flavor.

Notes

  • You can substitute ground chicken or ground beef if preferred.
  • Increase the red pepper flakes or add chili paste for a spicier dish.
  • Perfect for meal prep: divide into containers with rice and vegetables for balanced portions.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days or freeze for up to two months.

Keywords: honey garlic ground turkey, quick turkey recipe, easy weeknight dinner, ground turkey skillet, sweet and savory turkey, healthy turkey dish