Ground Turkey Bowl (Print page)

Seasoned turkey with roasted veggies and grains for a balanced meal.

# What You Need:

→ Protein

01 - 1 lb ground turkey
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
04 - 1 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
06 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
07 - 1/4 tsp chili flakes
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Vegetables

09 - 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
10 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
11 - 1 medium red onion, diced
12 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 2 cups broccoli florets
14 - 1 tbsp olive oil
15 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Grains

16 - 1 cup brown rice or quinoa, uncooked
17 - 2 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
18 - Pinch of salt

→ Garnish

19 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
20 - 1/2 avocado, sliced
21 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss bell pepper, zucchini, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli with 1 tbsp olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on prepared baking sheet.
02 - Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and lightly caramelized.
03 - Rinse rice or quinoa under cold water. In a saucepan, combine grains, water or broth, and a pinch of salt. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes for rice or 12 to 15 minutes for quinoa until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.
04 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, breaking it apart with a spatula. Sprinkle in smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir well and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until turkey is browned and cooked through.
05 - Divide cooked grains among four bowls. Top each with seasoned turkey and roasted vegetables.
06 - Top bowls with fresh cilantro or parsley, avocado slices, and lime wedges if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The whole thing comes together in under 45 minutes, which means you're eating real food before you get too hungry to think straight.
  • It tastes intentional and flavorful, not like you're eating plain chicken and vegetables as punishment.
  • Leftovers actually taste better the next day, so you can make extra and feel smug about having lunch already sorted.
02 -
  • Don't skip breaking up the turkey into small pieces as it cooks, because a solid mass of meat will steam instead of brown and taste completely different.
  • The vegetables need that moment of caramelization in a hot oven to develop sweetness and depth, so don't crowd the pan and don't skip the halfway stir.
03 -
  • Brown your turkey in a very hot skillet with just enough oil to coat the bottom, because crowding it or using too much oil makes it steam instead of brown.
  • Taste your grains before they're fully cooked so you know exactly when they hit that sweet spot between tender and still having texture.
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