Ground turkey is a lower-fat, lower calorie alternative to ground beef which makes it an ideal ingredient for those following a diabetes-friendly diet. Combining ground turkey with other foods that don’t cause a large blood sugar spike means those with diabetes can eat these delicious meals with the whole family.
Even those who don’t cook with ground turkey often will be able to try these meals, they are all easy and quick to make on weekdays when energy is low. Adding turkey to chili, burgers, tacos and more, you can transform them into low-fat, low-calories high protein meals anyone can enjoy. From breakfasts to lunches and dinners, there are plenty of diabetic recipes with ground turkey here to try when your diabetic meal-plan is looking a little stale.
1. Turkey Burgers With Grilled Onions and Blue Cheese
Who doesn’t love a good burger for dinner? With this recipe, you can enjoy your burger knowing it’s lower in calories and fat while still being packed with grilled onions, tangy blue cheese and juicy turkey patties. Use low-carb rye burger buns or swap the bun for lettuce leaves to cut the carbs even further.
2. Spinach and Turkey Meatballs
Looking for something different (and diabetic-friendly) for your next pasta night? These tasty meatballs are made with ground turkey and are super juicy and tender, perfect served over some wholewheat pasta or spiralized zucchini noodles. Make a double batch and keep some in the freezer for easy lunch options. You can also stuff them into a whole wheat pita, put on top of a salad, layer into a sub roll or just eat as is for a quick, high protein snack.
3. The Best Healthy Turkey Chili
Chili is one of the best recipes to batch cook. You can make a huge pot full of it and eat well for days! This version utilizes ground turkey to lower the fat and calories, and it’s packed with traditional chili flavors like onion, garlic, black beans and corn. Plus, you can pile up the toppings like sour cream, avocado, salsa or corn tortillas to make it even more special.
4. Diabetic Lasagne Recipe
Made with lean ground turkey and fat-free ricotta, this delicious diabetic-friendly take on lasagna is just as tasty as the traditional beef version. Still creamy and cheesy, with plenty of meat and sauce, this lasagna will keep the whole family happy and well-fed. There’s only 10 minutes prep time with this recipe so there’s minimal effort involved but the result will blow everyone away.
5. Turkey Tacos
Next time you’re needing a new recipe for taco night, these tacos are filled with juicy, perfectly spiced ground turkey. It has a bit of a kick from the jalapenos but you can adjust the heat up or down but adding less or more to taste. Served with avocado and pico de gallo, they offer the full taste of Mexico for those following a diabetic-friendly diet.
6. Healthier Baked Turkey Enchiladas
With this cosy recipe, those eating a diabetic-friendly diet can tuck into cheesy, saucy enchiladas without worrying about a blood sugar spike. A couple of ingredient swaps, like using ground turkey and adding a few more vegetables, make this recipe lower in calories, carbs and sodium than traditional beef enchiladas. But don’t worry, these don’t skimp on the punchy Mexican flavors!
7. Turkey Meatloaf
Meatloaf is a classic dinner option most of us remember from childhood. This is a healthy updated version that still tastes incredible. The flavors marry with the turkey perfectly so you won’t even miss the beef. It has a low-GI which ensures no blood sugar spikes, so if you are eating a diabetic meal plan this is the perfect meatloaf recipe to try.
8. Italian Style Turkey Penne Skillet
A one pot meal with healthy everyday ingredients, this pasta and turkey skillet hits the spot when you need something easy, cheesy and meaty. Plenty of Italian seasoning, tender pasta and juicy turkey make this one of those dishes you’ll cook again and again. It’s also a good one to grate in any extra vegetables you have laying around to boost the nutrition even further.
9. Turkey Burger Soup
Take the flavors and spices of a turkey burger, add some vegetables and simmer away in a broth to make this delightful soup that has very little prep time. Low in carbs and calories, the soup is one of those recipes you can make ahead of time and reheat and it somehow tastes even better than it did the first time around. Great for the freezer too, this is a great soup to make if you need to take food to someone who’s unwell. Give it a try this week, you’ll please both the burger lovers and the soup fiends at the table!
10. Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers are a firm favorite in my house but when we get sick of beef, these turkey stuffed peppers are a whole different kind of tasty! They’re low-carb, high protein and have fewer calories than the traditional version. They’re hearty, flavorful and comforting, there’s no fiddly or tricky techniques involved. Just fry up some ground turkey with spices and beans then place inside halved bell or poblano peppers. A great one to make with kids!
11. Turkey Lettuce Wraps
This recipe creates a beautiful Chinese-inspired sauce to coat the ground turkey and water chestnuts, then mounds of the mixture are wrapped up in fresh lettuce leaves. A quick, easy meal to rival take-out, these wraps are endlessly customisable. You can stack fresh salad veg on top of the turkey or add bell peppers, green beans or carrot to the turkey mixture to boost the nutrition even further.
