It’s the middle of the week, in the middle of the month, and not only did work exhaust you, but you’ve also got an approaching dinnertime with no idea what to make from your pantry. We’ve all been there—sometimes with hungry kids, or sometimes just on our own in an empty apartment on a random Wednesday.
The task ahead of feeding yourself or your family doesn’t have to feel daunting, especially if you already have a handful of turkey products in your fridge. The trick is knowing how to bring that energy and excitement back into the meal, with simple ingredients you’ve already got on hand, even when you yourself are feeling overwhelmed with the back-to-school or back-to-work seasonal fatigue. Luckily, we’ve got a list to help you do just that!
The following roundup of recipes were designed to put to use ground turkey, turkey sausages, turkey breasts, or deli cuts already on hand so that the next time you swing open the fridge door and stare at your shelves, you’ll have inspiration on how to whip up delicious, nutritious, family-friendly meals in half an hour.
Ground Turkey
It’s always advantageous to keep ground turkey on hand for those busy weeknights where you need to quickly whip up a meal packed with healthy protein. An even easier step is to prepare a large batch of ground turkey on the weekend that can easily be used throughout the week for simple dishes on the fly.
Even if you don’t have a lot of ingredients, recipes like our Turkey Lettuce Wrap are fast, easy, and relatively inexpensive because you can throw in a lot of flavour with a bottle of sriracha or beef up the protein with chopped peanuts. Or a simple and quick skillet can use up a variety of vegetables in just under half an hour.
Recipe: Turkey Mapo Tofu
Recipe: Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet
Recipe: Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Turkey Sausage
Sometimes the hardest part about an easy dinner is knowing how to use the ingredients you already have on hand. While you might not equate a sausage with a meatball, or taco meat, by removing the casings you have everything you need for both recipes.
Turkey sausages may seem limited, but in reality, your fridge already has an easy amount of minced meat ready to go for those stressful weeknights. Or, if you’ve grabbed some from the deli earlier in the week, you’ve got a tasty protein source without the hassle of cooking it up yourself—just slice and add to your recipe.
Recipe: Turkey Meatballs with Spinach and Feta
Recipe: Cranberry Chipotle Turkey Sausage Tacos
Recipe: 20 Minute Turkey Kielbasa White Bean Skillet
Turkey Breast
Say you bought a package of turkey breasts earlier in the week and planned to put together a more elaborate meal with plenty of side dishes. Now it’s Thursday, you’re tired, and you just want a simple meal without the hassle of extra components to get you through to the weekend. The good news is you have everything you need!
Slicing up turkey breast or cubing the meat makes cooking times fast and simple, leading to a relatively easy recipe. You can whip up a wrap in a flash thanks to on-hand vegetables like crisp lettuce and tomatoes, plus your favourite condiments. It’s easy and adds a touch of comfort food.
Recipe: Buffalo Turkey Wraps
Recipe: Kung Pao Turkey
Recipe: Grilled Turkey Fajitas
Turkey Deli Cuts
When you come home at the end of a long, hard day to a sparse fridge, the trip to the grocery store can daunt even the strongest of us. Sometimes you have to work with what you got, even if it doesn’t feel like much, so having turkey deli meat on hand can be a lifesaver for tough evenings like this!
While you might feel like you’re making a simple meal, adding some special touches can turn even the most regular, everyday dish into something new. For example, our Turkey “Sushi” Rolls give a spin on traditional wraps. Even a simple melt or grilled cheese can get upped in excitement with sophisticated flavours and different presentations. The main goal is that you’ve got dinner on the table, ready to tackle another day tomorrow.
Recipe: Turkey “Sushi” Rolls
Recipe: Turkey Avocado Crispbreads
Recipe: Italian Grilled Turkey Sandwich
We’ve all had those days where we don’t feel like our best self, which is why keeping these quick and simple recipes on hand can actually turn mealtimes into a huge relief rather than a hassle; once you know what to do with the ingredients in your fridge, eating a nutritious dinner on those tough weeknights can be just the ticket to making it through to tomorrow. We can guarantee you’ll feel better after you’ve had some good food.
Whatever you end up making, the most important thing is that you fed yourself or your household—that’s the end goal, and you did it!