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8 Healthy Ground Turkey Meal Prep Ideas

By Andrea Cohen
Published 9/29/2025
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When life gets busy, finding healthy meals that are quick to make, affordable, and satisfying can feel like a challenge. But with a few ground turkey meal prep ideas at your fingertips, you’ll be able to effortlessly make meals that fit your needs. Ground turkey is lean, versatile, and easy to cook in big batches, making it one of the best proteins for meal prepping so you can build balanced meals that can be enjoyed throughout the week. 

From turkey meatballs and meatloaf to chili, lasagna, and shepherd’s pie, you’ll find that this lean protein can be seasoned and paired with just about any vegetable, grain, or sauce, so there are endless ways to keep your meals interesting without spending hours in the kitchen. 

Why Ground Turkey Is a Good Option for Meal Prep

Ground turkey is lower in saturated fat compared to many red meats, while still providing plenty of protein to keep you feeling full and energized. A 3-ounce serving offers about 22 grams of protein along with key nutrients like B vitamins, zinc, and selenium, which support energy, muscle health, and immunity. Choosing leaner options, such as 93% lean ground turkey or 99% ground turkey breast, is a low-calorie, low-fat, and heart-healthy alternative to ground beef that keeps meals flavorful and satisfying while being better for you.

Healthy Ground Turkey Meal Prep Recipes

The chefs and dietitians at Health eCooks have developed healthy ground turkey meal prep recipes, including several turkey meatball meal prep recipes, designed to make weeknight cooking easier and healthier. Each can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge or freezer in individual servings or family-size portions so you’ll have a tasty meal ready to heat and eat whenever you’re hungry. 

  1. Heart Healthy Turkey Meatballs
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    180 mins

    Made with ground turkey and roasted eggplant, these meatballs are packed with protein and fiber. They’re versatile and can easily be paired with a variety of grains, veggies, and sauces, making them one of our most popular healthy turkey meal prep ideas. They also store well in the fridge and freezer.

  2. Heart Healthy Turkey Meatloaf
    Photo Credit: Adobe Stock
    75 mins

    This meatloaf is packed with lean protein and vegetables, making it a lighter take on a comfort food favorite. It holds together well for slicing, so you can portion it out in advance for balanced lunches or dinners during the week.

  3. Heart Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
    Photo Credit: Adobe Stock
    200 mins

    A hearty mix of ground turkey, beans, and spices, this chili is filling and nutrient-rich. Since it cooks in the slow cooker, you can make a large batch at once, making it perfect for meal prepping. Just heat and eat whenever you’re hungry. You can even store individual servings in the freezer.

  4. Turkey Swedish Meatballs
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    180 mins

    These savory meatballs are simmered in a creamy yogurt-based sauce, offering comfort food flavor with a lighter touch. They’re easy to batch cook and portion out so you can eat them later in the week when time is at a premium.

  5. Heart Healthy Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    90 mins

    With a savory turkey base topped by naturally sweet and fiber-rich mashed potatoes, this dish is indulgent and satisfying, while still being good for you. It’s an all-in-one meal that stores well, so you’ll have a wholesome dinner ready to go when you need it.

  6. Heart Healthy Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups
    Photo Credit: Kara Foran Photography, Baldwin Publishing
    90 mins

    These cheesy roll-ups use zucchini instead of pasta to make a low-carb lasagna filled with lean ground turkey and zesty marinara sauce. It’s easy to separate the roll-ups into individual portions, making them a smart and healthy choice for prepped meals you can take on the go or grab anytime.

  7. Turkey Bolognese
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    35 mins

    This rich turkey sauce delivers classic comfort with a healthier twist, using lean protein and plenty of vegetables. It freezes well, so you can keep nutritious, ready-to-go meals on hand for busy nights. Just make your favorite pasta and top with the already-made sauce.

  8. Turkey Meatballs and Gravy
    Photo Credit: iStock
    45 mins

    Juicy turkey meatballs covered in mushroom gravy make a hearty, protein-rich dish that’s lighter than traditional versions. They’re easy to reheat and pair well with grains or veggies for a complete meal prepped turkey meatball dish.

Why Meal Prep with Ground Turkey

It’s easy to make healthy lunches and dinners in advance with almost any type of lean protein, but here’s why using ground turkey is a great meal prep option:

  • Quick to cook: Ground turkey cooks in minutes, making it one of the fastest proteins to prepare in bulk.
  • Easy to store: Prepped turkey meals keep well in the fridge for up to four days and can be frozen for future use.
  • Budget-friendly: Ground turkey is typically more affordable than many other proteins, which makes meal prepping cost-effective.

Flexible for different diets: Ground turkey works for low-carb, high-protein, gluten-free, or heart-healthy eating plans without sacrificing flavor.

More Healthy Ground Turkey Recipes

These ground turkey meal prep ideas are simple ways to save time and support a healthier diet. Whether you prefer meatloaf, meatballs, casseroles, or chili, it’s easy to create dishes that are nutritious and delicious. And with so many options available, using ground turkey for meal prep keeps healthy eating enjoyable all week long.

In addition to the recipes shared here, we have more ground turkey recipes for you to try, including these 11 heart healthy ground turkey recipes. Each is delicious, nutritious, and easy to make—and most work well if you’re looking to prep low fat, low sodium, or low calorie meals in advance so you can get a healthy dinner on the table fast on busy nights.

Want more healthy meal prep ideas? Check out these blogs:

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