Healthy Ground Turkey Quinoa Bowls

These ground turkey quinoa bowls are ready-to-eat in 30 minutes! Perfectly cooked quinoa is topped with ground turkey and sweet bell peppers in a fire roasted tomato sauce. Easy and healthy!

Why You'll Love it:

With three kids in tow, easy dinners are a MUST. And these quinoa and ground turkey bowls check all the boxes. Flavorful, easy, and healthy!

• Fluffy quinoa - Say goodbye to mushy quinoa! My simple method produces fluffy quinoa with a tender bite every time.
• Healthy - One serving features 409 calories and 37 grams of protein! Quinoa is full of protein, fiber, and antioxidants called flavonoids that protect healthy cells in your body.
• Toppings - This ground turkey and quinoa recipe is an ideal vehicle for delicious toppings! Think pickled onions, cotija cheese, fresh cilantro, etc.

Key Ingredients:

• Ground turkey - I recommend 85% lean ground turkey. Any leaner and you risk it tasting dry.
• Quinoa - I buy a big bag at Costco for a steal. The tiny bags at the regular store aren't a good deal if you cook quinoa regularly. This recipe would taste great over brown rice and quinoa too.
• Chicken stock - An easy way to add flavor to your quinoa. Vegetable stock works great too!
• Fire roasted tomatoes - Another delicious shortcut! Fire roasted tomatoes are sweet, smoky, and less acidic. I used Hunt's brand.
• Chipotles in adobo - One of my favorite ingredients of ALL time! One chipotle adds a smoky flavor without too much heat. If you like things spicy, use two or three!
• Spices - Chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, brown sugar, and salt amp up the flavor.

How to Make a Turkey Quinoa Bowl:

1. Make the quinoa

There's more than one way to make fluffy, perfectly cooked quinoa! That being said, there's plenty of ways to make it mushy too. This method is foolproof.

• Combine the quinoa and chicken stock in a small saucepan.
• Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Do NOT cover. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until all the liquid evaporates.
• Remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes. This step ensures a fluffy result!

2. Make the turkey skillet

While the quinoa cooks, start the ground turkey. Be sure to prep all your ingredients beforehand for good vibes and easy cooking.

• In a large nonstick skillet, sauté the onion and bell peppers until caramelized. Add the garlic next so it doesn't burn.
• Add the ground turkey and spices. Break it up with a spatula and cook until it's browned and fully cooked.
• Add the fire roasted tomatoes, minced chipotle, and chicken stock.
• Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it simmer for 5 to 6 minutes, until slightly thickened.

3. Assemble

• Scoop quinoa into bowls, then top with ground turkey mixture.
• Add fresh cilantro or favorite toppings.
• Enjoy immediately!

Topping Ideas:

This ground turkey and quinoa recipe is delish as-is! However, I'm a huge fan of toppings. Here's a few delicious ideas:

• Pickled red onions
• Cotija cheese or shredded fiesta cheese
• Fresh cilantro
• Pineapple mango salsa
• Sliced avocado

Storage Tips:

• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Reheat in the microwave until warm throughout.
• Pre-portion quinoa and turkey in meal prep containers for a quick, on-the-go work lunch.

Tips & Variations:

• Add beans - You can add a can of drained black beans or chickpeas for extra protein! Add them after you add the tomatoes.
• Wait to add the garlic - Burnt garlic tastes bitter. If you add it with the bell peppers, it may burn before you can caramelize them.
• Don't cover the quinoa - If you cover it while it cooks, the results may be mushy! Wait until after it cooks, then cover it, and let it steam for 5 minutes. Perfect every time!

Easy Dinner Recipes:

• Healthy Lasagna Stuffed Peppers
• Chimichurri Steak Bowl
• Shakshuka with Feta Recipe
• Pistachio Crusted Salmon with Lemon Basil Sauce
• Sheet Pan Salmon Dinner
• Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner