Turkey fried rice brings quick, easy weeknight dinners to the next level. Lean ground turkey, leftover brown rice, crisp vegetables, and delicious Asian flavors create a better-than-take-out version of this classic. This Ground Turkey Fried Rice Recipe can be made on the weekend or thrown together in less than 30 minutes during the week.
This healthy turkey fried rice recipe is one of my favorites to make when craving Chinese takeout. And, to be honest, this homemade version is better than take-out.
Of course, after a long week, take-out always seems like a good idea – until it’s not. I always wake up with take-out remorse because I’ve spent too much money on food that makes me bloated and feel yucky.
To curb our cravings, I’ve created healthier versions of our favorite Chinese take-out recipes like this Healthy Shrimp Fried Rice, Quinoa Fried Rice, Asian Lettuce Wraps, Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki, Healthy Beef and Broccoli, and Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli!
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More Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Healthier than take-out. You control all of the ingredients! This recipe includes lean ground turkey, lots of veggies, whole-grain brown rice, and no MSG!
- Saves money. When you make this homemade, you spend less, even if using higher-quality ingredients!
- Easy to make. All of the ingredients go into one pan for easy preparation and clean-up.
- Can be made ahead of time. Ground turkey fried rice tastes better by the day, so make it on Sunday for a quick lunch or dinner all week. As a bonus, you can freeze this Chinese food favorite too! I’ll give tips below.
The Ingredients
Here are the ground turkey fried rice ingredients you’ll need; many are healthy pantry ingredients you most likely have in your kitchen! Please see the recipe card for complete instructions.
- Sesame oil. You can use any oil when cooking ground turkey. I use sesame oil because it adds that delicious Asian flavor.
- Peanut oil. I use peanut oil to stir-fry the vegetables, eggs, and rice because it gives it an authentic taste, but any oil will work
- Ground turkey. Purchasing high-quality lean ground turkey for best results.
- Chicken broth. This adds flavor and moisture to the ground turkey.
- Teriyaki sauce. To keep this recipe easy, I use a high-quality store-bought teriyaki sauce like Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce. Of course, you can make homemade teriyaki sauce if you want.
- Ground coriander, minced ginger, and scallions. These ingredients add an excellent depth of flavor to the recipe.
- Large eggs. Use high-quality eggs for the best flavor.
- Shredded carrots. Chopped carrots can also work, but I like using shredded because then there’s a piece of carrot in every bite. Plus, shredded carrots cook more evenly. I recommend shredding carrots fresh for the best flavor.
- Red bell pepper. Any color bell pepper will work in this turkey fried rice recipe; I like red because it gives a subtle sweet flavor. Most of the time, I’ll chop the peppers but slicing them into thin strips is fun too.
- Scallions – for flavor and garnish.
- Leftover rice. Any cooked rice will work, but brown rice is my go-to when making any stir fry! It’s whole-grain and adds a wholesome flavor and texture to the dish. Here’s my tutorial on how to cook brown rice in the rice cooker.
- Frozen peas. for more vegetables and color.
How to Make Ground Turkey Fried Rice
- In a large skillet, heat the sesame oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add in the ground turkey and saute until it is cooked through, breaking up the meat as it cooks.
- After it’s cooked and no longer pink, transfer the cooked turkey to a bowl and add in the broth, Teriyaki sauce, and ground coriander. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, heat 1/2 tablespoon of peanut oil and stir the eggs just until set. The eggs should be moist. Put them in the bowl with the turkey mixture.
- Heat the remaining peanut oil in the pan. After it’s hot, add in the ginger, shredded carrots, pepper, and scallions and cook until everything is tender but still has a little crunch.
- Stir in the rice and peas. Let the rice mixture cook for about 2 minutes and then stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes until there are some crispy parts.
- Stir in the turkey mixture and cook over medium-high for another 5 minutes or until everything is heated through and hot.
- Serve with extra soy sauce.
Cooking Tips
- Bulk up the vegetables. Add more carrots, peppers, or other vegetables to this recipe.
- Cut vegetables small or into thin slices. The appeal of stir-fry recipes is they come together fast. For the vegetables to cook, you should cut them into small pieces. For example, shredded carrots will cook perfectly, while chopped carrots may still be firm after everything else cooks.
- Cook rice ahead of time. This all fried rice recipes are best with leftover rice, so cook it at least a day ahead of time. I recommend cooking brown rice in a rice cooker for easy, hands-off cooking. You can also purchase premade or frozen rice to use in this recipe.
Variations
- Use shredded turkey. Turkey-fried rice is a fantastic way to use up leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or another dinner. Use about 2-3 cups of shredded turkey in place of the 1lb of ground turkey meat.
- Swap out the vegetables. Stir-frys are a great way to use up leftover vegetables in the fridge. Onions, mushrooms, green beans, edamame, and sugar snap peas are all vegetables I’ve substituted in this recipe.
- Purchase bags of pre-cut stir-fried vegetables. Most grocery stores have bags of fresh or frozen vegetables you can use in stir-frys.
- Any rice will work. I use long-grain brown rice in turkey fried rice but use your favorite.
- Gluten-free. If gluten is an issue, then use a gluten-free teriyaki sauce and soy sauce.
- Keep it low carb. Substituting cauliflower rice for brown rice is a great way to make this a low carb recipe. To keep this recipe easy, look for premade cauliflower rice in the produce and freezer aisle at the grocery store.
- Make it vegetarian. Leave the ground turkey out and add tofu, beans, or extra veggies.
- Switch out the protein. Ground chicken, shredded chicken, or shrimp is delicious in this fried rice. The cook times might be different with other proteins, so keep an eye on the recipe to not overcook the chicken or shrimp.
- Add more teriyaki or soy sauce at the end. If you want more flavor or extra sauce, then pour in some extra teriyaki or soy sauce at the end.
- Spice it up. If you like spicy fried rice, then add in red pepper flakes or a teaspoon or so of red chili oil after it’s done cooking.
Supplies
- Large skillet
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
- Chopsticks
- Glass storage containers
- Souper Cubes
Storage Tips
Healthy Turkey fried rice is a meal prep champion! It keeps great in the refrigerator and can also be frozen.
For the week: Place the cooked turkey fried rice in a large airtight container or portion out into small containers and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave on high for 3-5 minutes.
To freeze: Place the cooked turkey fried rice into individual freezer bags or glass meal prep containers and freeze for up to 3 months.
You can also freeze into portions using Souper Cubes silicone trays. After the fried rice is frozen, remove the blocks from the silicone trays and put them into large labeled freezer bags.
To reheat the turkey fried rice, first, remove it from the bag. Then place the rice into a microwave-safe container and heat on high for 4-5 minutes or until hot.
Other Healthy Ground Turkey Recipes
- The Best Turkey Burgers
- Sheet Pan Nachos with Ground Turkey
- Easy Turkey Meatball Subs
- Italian Turkey Meatloaf
- Ground Turkey Enchiladas
- Ground Turkey Chili
See all my healthy ground turkey recipes.
Ground Turkey Fried Rice
Equipment
- Large Skillet or Frying Pan
- Mixing Bowls
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 pound ground turkey you can also use ground chicken
- 1/2 cup natural chicken broth
- 1/4 cup Teriyaki sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons minced ginger
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and thinly sliced
- 6 scallions white and pale part thinly sliced. Save the dark green part of the scallion for garnish.
- 3 cups cold cooked brown rice
- 1 cup frozen peas
- soy sauce optional
- chili oil optional
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the sesame oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add in the ground turkey and saute until it is cooked through, breaking up the meat as it cooks. This takes about 5-6 minutes.
- After it’s cooked and no longer pink, transfer the cooked turkey to a bowl and add in the broth, Teriyaki sauce, and ground coriander. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, heat 1/2 tablespoon of peanut oil and stir the eggs just until set. The eggs should be moist, this takes 1-2 minutes Put them in the bowl with the turkey mixture.
- Heat the remaining peanut oil in the pan. After it’s hot, add in the ginger, shredded carrots, pepper, and scallions and cook until everything is tender but still has a little crunch, about 5-6 minutes
- Stir in the rice and peas. Let the rice mixture cook for about 2 minutes and then stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes until there are some crispy parts.
- Stir in the turkey mixture and cook over medium-high for another 5 minutes or until everything is heated through and hot.
- Serve with soy sauce and chili oil, if using.
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this Turkey Fried Rice recipe? If so, I’d love for you to rate this recipe and leave a comment below. We all learn from each other’s experiences. Also, it would be awesome if you could share a picture on Instagram and tag it #organizeyourselfskinny. I can’t wait to see it!
Christy says
I LOVED this! I didn’t have peanut oil, so I used coconut oil. I also ran out of eggs this morning and didn’t get to the store today, so we had it sans the eggs. It was still very good! Thanks for sharing. My kids loved it too…even my Picky Eunice! 😉
Bon appetit!
Christy