I know many of us stockpiled a number of foods that don’t go bad for a while – but now don’t know what to do with them! Here are 6 QUICK AND EASY ground beef and ground turkey recipes that your family will love. There’s a great mix of comfort food to replace your sloppy joe classics with some healthy options!

You probably already have some recipes on the go for turkey chili or turkey meatloaf. So let’s expand those horizons!

6 Easy Meals to Make with Ground Beef or Ground Turkey

Stuffed Acorn Squash with Ground Beef

Ingredients:

• 1 acorn squash

• 4 oz ground beef, 90% lean, raw (or turkey)

• 1 cup mushrooms, small, whole or sliced

• 1 oz Parmesan cheese, shaved

• 2 cups lettuce

• 1 Tbsp creamy dressing (e.g. ranch), less than 50 calories per 2 Tbsp

• Dashes: salt, pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Pierce the skin each squash and microwave for 4 minutes. Once cooled, slice the squash in half and scoop out the seeds.

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the squash flesh side down on baking sheet and cook in oven for 20 minutes.

4. Spray a pan with an oil spray and cook ground beef until cooked through. Add in ½ cup mushrooms (chopped). Sauté for 2-3 minutes.

5. Once squash has cooked, remove from oven and flip to be flesh side up. Spoon in ground beef & mushroom mixture, top with cheese.

6. Place the squash back in the oven for 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.

7. To make side salad: mix ½ cup mushrooms, lettuce, and dressing

Lettuce Wraps with Ground Beef & Chopped Veg

Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 oz ground beef, 85% lean, raw (or turkey)

• 1 cup mixed greens

• 1 cup leafy greens, romaine

• 1/3 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

• Dashes: salt, pepper

Directions:

1. Stir fry veggies & beef until no longer pink with an oil spray. Add in salt and pepper.

2. Add into lettuce leaves.

3. Top with cheese.

Stuffed Pepper Soup

Ingredients:

• 4 oz ground beef, 90% lean, raw (or turkey)

• 2 cups broth, chicken or beef

• 1 bell pepper, red

• 3/8 cup canned, diced tomatoes

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• Dashes: oregano, basil, salt

Directions:

1. Spray a pan with an oil spray. Stir fry beef until no longer pink.

2. Add oil to pot. Add in bell pepper (diced) – cook for 3-4 minutes.

3. Add in broth, tomatoes, beef, and seasonings.

4. Turn the burner to low heat & let sit, covered, for a minimum of 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

5. Lasts for 3 days. Freeze if not using.

6. No beef? Use chicken or tofu.

Enchilada Casserole

Ingredients:

• 4 oz ground beef, 90% lean, raw (or turkey)

• 2 cups frozen spinach

• 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella

• 1/8 cup salsa verde

• 1 tsp hot sauce

• Dashes: salt, pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. This recipe works best when making 2-3 servings, so double or triple the ingredients if you’re making multiple servings at once. Grocery lists are always correct with total ingredient amounts.

3. Spray a pan with an oil spray. Stir fry beef and spinach until beef is no longer pink and spinach has heated through. Drain away any excess liquid.

4. Spray casserole dish with an oil spray.

5. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Add to the casserole dish.

6. Bake for 15 minutes.

7. No beef? Use chicken or tofu. No dairy? Use a dairy-free version. Other notes: If you have enchilada sauce, use that instead of regular hot sauce. If you don’t have salsa verde, use regular salsa.

Healthified Baked Ziti

Ingredients:

• 1 cup veggie noodles/rice, carrot noodles “coodles”, raw

• 1/2 cup tomatoes, canned, crushed

• 4 oz ground beef, 90% lean, raw (or turkey)

• 1/2 onion, yellow

• 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

• 1/4 cup Ricotta cheese, part-skim

• Dashes: oregano, basil, salt, pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. This recipe works best when making 2-3 servings.

3. Stir-fry carrot zoodles with an oil spray if cooking from frozen (recommended); then drain out any excess liquid.

4. While carrot zoodles are cooking, stir fry ground beef and onion (diced) in a separate pan with an oil spray until cooked through; drain any excess liquid.

5. Combine all ingredients.

6. Spray casserole dish with an oil spray; add in ingredients.

7. Bake for 25 minutes.

8. No carrot noodles? Use zoodles. I always prefer to use pre-spiralized frozen carrot noodles or zoodles since I find the taste is better – but use what you have!

9. No meat? Use ground turkey or stir-fried tofu.

Zucchini Boats

Ingredients:

• 4 oz ground beef, 90% lean, raw (or turkey)

• 1 zucchini, medium

• 1/2 cup tomatoes, canned, crushed

• 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

• Dashes: salt, pepper, oregano

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F

2. Using a small spoon, hollow out the centers of the zucchini

3. In a pan, stir-fry ground turkey or beef until no longer pink; add in canned tomatoes and stir

4. Add mixture to hollowed-out zucchinis

5. Top with salt, pepper, and cheese

6. Bake for 30 minutes in a glass casserole dish or on a baking sheet (line baking sheet with tin foil)

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