turkey

Spicy Turkey Burgers

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Spicy Turkey BurgerYou know you think it when you hear “turkey burger”…just a hint of disappointment knowing that you’ll have to slather on some extra condiments to make up for the otherwise dry and bland burger itself. You don’t have to pretend that you love the taste turkey burgers *so* much more than beef burgers. I’ve been there. I know. BUT, luckily these turkey burgers are by no means bland and DEFINITELY not dry. I would even venture to say that I would pick this turkey burger over a beef burger. It’s THAT good. You will be in shock. And awe. And wonder why you’ve suffered through so many bad turkey burgers pretending to like them because they’re supposed to be “healthy.” Trust me here.

Spicy Turkey BurgerNow, on the flip side, don’t let the word “spicy” scare you. These turkey burgers do have a couple of spicy ingredients but are by no means 5-alarm, call the fire department spicy. The spice just perks up the otherwise kind of bland turkey. The green chiles also add some much needed moisture to the turkey. As does the cheese. Plus, it’s hard to go wrong with cheese.

Spicy Turkey BurgerI kind of got this recipe from my mom. I say “kind of” because when I asked her what was in it she replied, “ground turkey, cheese, green chiles, and hot sauce.” Thanks, mom. That’s real helpful. Just kidding…I love my mom and I’m sure she would figure out the exact amounts for me if I wanted but she just knows how much goes in. It’s like her secret. Well, I’m outing her secret. Because it’s too good not to share. I also added a little fresh cilantro because we have an enormous amount in our garden. Totally optional. Totally delicious.

Spicy Turkey BurgerWhat did I put on my turkey burgers? A little extra cheese (there’s never enough), guacamole, and lettuce. Um, YUM! I think we even added pickles to the mix when we had leftovers. You can also use your traditional burger toppings and it would be delicious. Basically, you can’t go wrong with these burgers.

Spicy Turkey Burgers
Serves 4
Juicy and flavorful turkey burgers
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Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
12 min
Total Time
17 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
12 min
Total Time
17 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 pound ground turkey
  2. 1/2-3/4 can chopped green chiles (4 ounce can)
  3. 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  4. 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro
  5. 1 teaspoon hot sauce or Sriracha
Instructions
  1. Gently blend ingredients together until just combined.
  2. Form into 4 patties.
  3. Grill over medium heat for 5-6 minutes per side, until golden brown and the inside temperature reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Since these are turkey burgers, make sure they are cooked all the way through.
Notes
  1. I topped my burgers with lettuce, a little more cheese, and guacamole. You can also use your favorite traditional burger toppings!
Flavor From Scratch https://www.flavorfromscratch.com/

Breakfast Burrito and Happy News

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Breakfast BurritoI have left you without a new recipe for so long and for that I am sorry. I’m sure it will make you feel better to know there was a good reason behind this deprivation. At least my husband and I think it’s a good reason…We’re expecting! We’ve had a crazy month of traveling to see family and friends and sharing the wonderful news. We’ve gotten a lot of stories about past pregnancies and babies, dirty diapers, and late nights. Some of it sounds awesome and other parts I’m just pretending I didn’t hear. Ignorance is bliss in some cases. I’m not sure anything will prepare us for what’s to come but we have amazing support from our loved ones and that sure that helps!

So on top of all that exciting craziness along with the normal day to day craziness of work, I have been lacking in the new recipe department. I have to say my mind is elsewhere. There’s really no other excuse. So I’m going to try to focus back in and share a scrumptious recipe with you all! Okay, go…

Breakfast BurritoI got this idea from my sister-in-law when we went to go visit her over the holidays. She had breakfast burritos all ready and frozen in the freezer so that when we all decided we were hungry she would be able to feed us something delicious fairly quickly. Really smart, right? It’s so hard to have guests over and this is a simple way to be prepared before anyone even steps foot in the door.

Breakfast BurritoIt’s really a rather simple recipe that uses fresh veggies and yummy ingredients. You can of course put whatever floats your boat into this instead of the veggies and ingredients I used. You can easily use ground sausage instead of turkey and skip some of the dried herbs. I wanted make my own flavor mix so I stuck with the ground turkey. I thought about putting beans in this recipe, but with everything else it was already about packed. You could also easily replace the turkey with beans to make it vegetarian.

Breakfast BurritoJust thinking about all these ideas makes me want to make another variation of these breakfast treats! There are just so many options…it blows my mind. If you come up with your own delicious variation, comment below with what you used!

Breakfast Burrito
Yields 8
Delicious turkey, egg, and veggie breakfast burrito. Easy to put together and easy to prepare when you're on the go!
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Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
40 min
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
40 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 pound ground turkey, uncooked
  2. 1/2 onion, finely chopped
  3. 1 bell pepper, chopped
  4. 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  5. 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
  6. 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  7. 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
  8. 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  9. salt and pepper, to taste
  10. 12 eggs
  11. 1/4 cup water
  12. 3 cups spinach leaves, roughly chopped
  13. 8-10 whole wheat burrito wraps
  14. 1-1.5 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
  1. Brown ground turkey in a large saute pan over medium heat. Drain the excess fat and remove ground turkey from pan. Set aside.
  2. In the same pan, saute the onion, bell pepper, and herbs (thyme, sage, red pepper flakes, parsley, garlic powder, salt and pepper) over medium heat until tender, about 5-8 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
  3. Whisk together eggs, water, and salt and pepper (to taste). Add to pan with onion and bell pepper mixture. Stir while cooking over low heat until mostly cooked through. The eggs should look mostly cooked but still moist.
  4. Add the spinach leaves and cook over low until wilted. Stir in turkey to mixture until combined. Remove from heat.
  5. Place burrito wrap on square of aluminum foil just larger than the burrito. Fill burrito with 1/8 or 1/10 of the mixture (depending on how many wraps you have). Top with cheese.
  6. Roll as you would a burrito and wrap with the foil.
  7. If you want to eat immediately, place in an oven set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and everything is warm.
  8. If you decide to freeze the burritos, defrost overnight in the refrigerator and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through.
Notes
  1. Don't try to overfill the burritos because they will break if you put too much goodness into them!
Flavor From Scratch https://www.flavorfromscratch.com/

Cheesy Taco Soup

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Taco SoupCheesy taco soup. Cheesy Taco Soup! CHEESY.TACO.SOUP!!!! I must tell you that I love this stuff. I know I say I love a lot of things but I SERIOUSLY love this stuff. Like this is at the top of the top of my lists of favorite things to eat. I’m pretty sure it’s the cheese. There are so many good things about the soup, but let’s face it…I’m a cheese-a-holic. Cheese makes everything better.

Taco SoupIf you couldn’t tell by my enthusiasm, this was an instant classic in our household at first bite. I think as I was making this soup for the first time Travis gave me some quizzical looks as I started adding more and more spices and (planned) randomness to the soup. Luckily for him, and for me, the creation turned out top notch. No need for quizzical looks or uncertainty. You can be certain that you will be eating a delicious cheesy taco in a bowl before long.

Taco SoupIf you haven’t noticed, Travis and I are huge fans of thick and creamy soups. Not convinced? Check out my creamy tomato basil soup or cheesy veggie chowder. It may not be possible for me to make a soup without the words “creamy” or “cheesy” in front of it. Challenge accepted. Just wait for it. It’ll come someday. But for now, I’m happy with my cheesy taco soup.

Taco Soup

Cheesy Taco Soup
Serves 8
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Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
50 min
Total Time
1 hr 10 min
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
50 min
Total Time
1 hr 10 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 pound ground turkey
  2. 1 onion, diced
  3. 1 jalapeño, seeds removed and minced
  4. 2 tablespoons chili powder
  5. 1 tablespoon cumin
  6. 1 teaspoon paprika
  7. 1 teaspoon black pepper
  8. 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  9. 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  10. 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  11. 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounce can)
  12. 6 cups chicken broth
  13. 1 cup uncooked brown rice
  14. 2 cups milk
  15. 1 can black beans (15 ounce can), drained and rinsed
  16. 2 tablespoons corn starch and 1/4 cup water, whisked into a slurry
  17. 3 cups cheddar cheese
  18. salt, to taste
  19. tortilla chips, for garnish
Instructions
  1. Brown the ground turkey over medium-high heat in a large pot. Drain any excess fat. Add the onions and jalapeño and saute 2 minutes.
  2. Add in the spices, tomatoes with juice, and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer.
  3. Stir in the rice. Return to a simmer, cover, and let simmer for 40 minutes.
  4. Add in the milk and beans and heat until the soup is back to a simmer.
  5. Add in the corn starch and water slurry, stirring constantly while bringing the soup to a light boil. The soup should thicken with the slurry.
  6. Remove the soup from the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese. Add salt, to taste.
  7. Serve with tortilla chips, to garnish.
Notes
  1. You can also make this with ground beef but since there is so much flavor already I stuck with the ground turkey!
  2. Keep in mind the tortilla chips are salty so I tend to add only a little salt.
Flavor From Scratch https://www.flavorfromscratch.com/

Lasagna with Meat Sauce

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Lasagna is something that everyone seems to love. It’s ooey and gooey and saucy and full of flavor. Plus it feeds a lot of people! Don’t worry, I won’t be mad if you don’t like lasagna. Everyone has their own preferences. With that said, let’s be real…it would be rare that you have someone over for dinner and they are disappointed when lasagna shows up on the table. Seriously.

This recipe came from Travis’ family. It’s slightly adapted but it’s more or less the same as when I got it. Delicious as always! The main difference is that I typically use ground turkey instead of ground beef. Both add a good flavor. Plus with the sausage in there I honestly can’t tell the difference between ground beef and turkey. So use what you like or what you have!

Lasagna is a little bit of a process but in the end it is definitely worth it! One wonderful thing about lasagna is that you can easily freeze and thaw it before baking it so if you make it, you might as well make a lot of it so that you can have it more than once! Or, if you have company coming this is a great make-ahead dish so that all you have to do is pop it in the oven. Easy peasy.

Travis and I have been making homemade pasta for awhile now so we made homemade lasagna noodles for this. So. gosh. darn. good. Don’t get me wrong, this lasagna is scrumptious with or without the fresh noodles. BUT, lasagna with fresh pasta is like eating pillows of noodles covered in gooey cheese and meaty tomato sauce. Yeah. Just stop and think about that for a minute…pillows of pasta. gooey cheese. meaty sauce. Enough said.

Lasagna with Meat Sauce
Serves 8
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Prep Time
40 min
Cook Time
45 min
Total Time
1 hr 40 min
Prep Time
40 min
Cook Time
45 min
Total Time
1 hr 40 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 pound ground turkey (or ground beef)
  2. 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage
  3. 2 cloves garlic, minced
  4. 1 can whole tomatoes (28 ounces)
  5. 1 can tomato paste (12 ounces)
  6. 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced
  7. 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
  8. 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  9. 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  10. 2 cups cottage cheese
  11. 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese + 1/2 cup for topping
  12. 16 ounces grated mozzarella cheese
  13. 1 box lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
Instructions
  1. Brown ground turkey and sausage in a large pan over medium heat. Drain any excess fat and add the garlic to the pan. Sauté 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste. Slightly break apart the tomatoes as you stir. Stir in the basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. In a bowl, stir together the cottage cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and grated mozzarella cheese.
  4. In an ungreased 9 x 13" pan, alternate layers of sauce, noodles, and cheese, starting with a little sauce on the bottom. End with a layer of sauce and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese on top.
  5. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
Notes
  1. This recipe can easily be frozen after assembly then thawed and baked as directed!
Flavor From Scratch https://www.flavorfromscratch.com/
 

Hearty Turkey Chili

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Turkey ChiliChili is one of my favorite quick and healthy meals that fills your belly on a cool day. It’s like comfort food but without the added fat that a lot of comfort foods have. Plus, *bonus* that turkey also tastes delicious in this dish. There are so many beautiful flavors that you will not miss the beef at all. Promise.

Turkey ChiliYou can also take this recipe and run with it. I don’t mean literally. **Disclaimer: Do not run with chili. You are bound to get burnt.** No, I mean take this recipe and make it yours! Add your favorite beans, veggies, or spices. Have some red beans? No worries. Add those. Green beans…go for it! You love chocolate. Add some cocoa powder. Why not?? One time I even snuck some kale into the chili. I swear you couldn’t notice but I think my husband described it as “stringy.” It’s still up for debate.

Turkey ChiliThis is one of those dishes that is good on day like today in Michigan where it is cold and drizzling and you don’t want to leave the couch. But it’s also Halloween today so I will probably leave the couch to pass out candy to those brave enough to venture out into the rainy cold. Maybe they’ll even get a few extra pieces of candy for being so brave.

Oh, I remember a few times my sister and I went trick-or-treating in ponchos and/or large jackets. It was so sad to cover up one of my favorite Minnie Mouse costumes with a poncho /sigh/ but you gotta do what you gotta do to get candy. It’s serious business out there.

Turkey ChiliWhether you are out in the cold and need something to warm your belly or it’s just a day to cuddle up and do nothing, this chili is the perfect solution to a “chilly” day. Get it?? Chilly. Chili. Yeah, I’m cool.

Hearty Turkey Chili
Serves 6
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Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
35 min
Total Time
40 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
35 min
Total Time
40 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 pound ground turkey
  2. 1 yellow onion, diced
  3. 1 clove garlic, minced
  4. 3 carrots, diced
  5. 2 bell peppers, diced
  6. 1 jalapeño, finely diced
  7. 2 cans diced tomatoes (28 ounce cans), or approximately 6 cups of diced tomatoes
  8. 2 cans black beans (15 ounce cans)
  9. 2 tablespoons chili powder
  10. 2 tablespoons cumin powder
  11. 1 teaspoon oregano
  12. 1 teaspoon paprika
  13. 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  14. 2 dried bay leaves
  15. 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  16. 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
  17. 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
  1. Brown the turkey in a large pot over medium-high heat. Once browned, remove any excess oil from the pan.
  2. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, bell peppers, and jalapeño to the pot and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add the tomatoes, beans, and spices (chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, cinnamon, bay leaves, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper). Simmer covered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the chili reaches your desired thickness.
  5. Remove the bay leaves prior to serving.
Notes
  1. You can reduce or increase how spicy this chili is by reducing or increasing the cayenne and jalapeño. This chili has a little kick to so try it with less first if you are unsure and add more to taste. I typically serve mine over mashed potatoes or french fries with a little cheddar cheese on top (yum!) but it's also delicious on its own!
Flavor From Scratch https://www.flavorfromscratch.com/