This Simple Ground Turkey Skillet Dinner is an easy, family-friendly meal that comes together in about 25 minutes. Everything cooks in one skillet and the dish is loaded with bell peppers and big, comforting flavor — perfect for busy weeknights.
When weeknights are hectic, getting dinner on the table quickly without resorting to the same meals over and over is a challenge. This ground turkey and pepper skillet is a reliable, simple recipe that our family reaches for again and again. It’s fast, adaptable and satisfying.
Ground turkey is a versatile staple. This skillet pairs well with rice, potatoes or noodles, and it’s easy to customize to suit your pantry or preferences. Use pre-chopped vegetables to cut prep time or swap in your favorite ground meat if you prefer.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in under 30 minutes. From start to finish this skillet takes roughly 20–25 minutes. Using pre-chopped or frozen peppers and onions can save even more time.
- One pan, minimal cleanup. Everything cooks in a single skillet — add minute rice or leftover rice right into the pan to keep the dishes to a minimum.
- Highly adaptable. Make it gluten-free, dairy-free, or swap ground turkey for ground beef or chicken. Adjust spices or add extra veggies for variety.
- Freezer friendly. Leftovers store well in the fridge for 3–4 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months for a quick meal later.
Ingredient Notes
- Ground turkey: Choose 85/15 or similar for a juicier result. Leaner turkey works but may be drier. Ground beef or chicken can be used as alternatives.
- Tomato paste: Adds body and a concentrated tomato flavor to thicken the sauce slightly.
- Tomato sauce: Use the thinner canned tomato sauce (not marinara) to create a saucy base. Diced tomatoes can be stirred in if you prefer more texture.
- Worcestershire sauce: Provides a savory depth that complements the peppers and turkey, giving a flavor similar to stuffed peppers.
- Seasoning: Dried oregano or Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and cracked black pepper work well. Fresh or powdered garlic both work — adjust to taste.
- Cheese (optional): A sprinkle of mozzarella or cheddar on top is delicious. Mozzarella gives a stuffed-pepper feel.
- Rice: Use cooked rice (minute rice or leftover rice) if you want a one-skillet meal. Brown or white rice both work fine.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Heat a large skillet over medium-high and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Sauté diced peppers and onion for 2–3 minutes, until the onion becomes translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for about one more minute.
Step 2: Push the vegetables to one side of the pan and add the ground turkey. Brown the meat, breaking it up as it cooks, then mix it together with the vegetables.
Step 3: Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the turkey is fully cooked through and no pink remains.
Step 4: Reduce the heat to low and stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Combine well and let flavors meld for a couple of minutes.
Step 5: If using cooked rice, stir it into the skillet now. Taste and adjust seasoning or add a little more tomato sauce if you prefer a saucier dish.
Step 6: Let everything simmer for a couple of minutes more, then serve hot topped with shredded cheese and chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Recipe Tips
- Use any color bell pepper. Red, yellow, orange or green all work — mix and match based on what you have.
- Swap the protein. Ground beef or ground chicken are fine substitutions if you don’t have turkey.
- Choose a roomy skillet. A 10–12 inch skillet is ideal to prevent splatter and make stirring easier; cast iron or nonstick both work well.
Other Ways to Serve This Dish
This skillet is great with rice mixed in, but it also works well served in other ways depending on your mood or dietary needs:
- Spooned into a baked potato or baked sweet potato
- Served over cauliflower rice or quinoa for a low-carb option
- On a bun, like a sloppy-Joe style sandwich
- Spoon over buttered noodles for a comforting twist
Try These Other Simple Dinners
- Mediterranean steak bites with yogurt sauce
- Parmesan crusted chicken sheet pan dinner
- Sun-dried tomato, spinach and feta turkey burger
- Chicken and biscuit skillet
- Chicken stuffed poblano peppers
- Maple bacon wrapped pork chops
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Simple Ground Turkey Pepper Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow (or red/orange) bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 3–4 tbsp tomato paste
- 3/4–1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced (or 3/4 tsp garlic powder)
- 1 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2–1 tsp dried oregano (or Italian seasoning)
- 1/4–1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1–1 1/2 cups cooked rice (optional)
- Shredded cheese for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium-high. Sauté peppers and onions 2–3 minutes until softened, then add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Push veggies to the side, add ground turkey and brown thoroughly. Mix turkey and vegetables together.
- Lower the heat and stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Combine and simmer briefly.
- If using rice, stir it in now and adjust seasoning and tomato sauce to taste.
- Serve topped with fresh parsley and shredded cheese if desired.
Notes
Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3–4 days. To freeze, cool completely and transfer to a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Substitutions: Ground beef or ground chicken can replace turkey. Use any bell pepper color you prefer.
Pan size: A 10–12 inch skillet is recommended to give you room to stir without splashing.
Nutrition
Calories: 330 kcal, Carbohydrates: 29 g, Protein: 25 g, Fat: 14 g (approximate).
Nutrition information is an estimate and should be used as a guideline only.