These 10 ground turkey slow cooker recipes make easy Crockpot dinners with minimal prep and dependable family-friendly flavor. From turkey chili and sloppy Joes to meatballs, taco filling, soups, Bolognese, enchilada quinoa, and lasagna soup, each recipe uses about 1 pound of ground turkey and serves approximately 4 to 6 people.
For the best texture, brown ground turkey with the aromatics before adding it to the slow cooker, except for the meatballs, which can be shaped and nestled directly into marinara. The result is tender, savory food with bright tomato sauces, warming spices, creamy cheese, hearty beans, and vegetables ready when dinner time arrives.
Jump to RecipeWhy You’ll Love These Recipes
Ground turkey is a smart slow cooker staple because it cooks quickly, takes on the flavor of spices and sauces, and works in everything from a smoky chili to a tomato-rich pasta sauce. These dinners are especially useful on busy weeknights because most of the work happens before the lid goes on.
Each recipe begins with familiar ingredients and flexible toppings. Keep the finished meals mild for children, or add jalapeño, hot sauce, cayenne, crushed red pepper, or extra chili powder at the table.
- Most recipes use one pound of ground turkey.
- Most make 4 to 6 servings.
- LOW cooking times range from 4 to 8 hours, while HIGH generally takes about half as long.
- Cooked ground turkey should reach 165°F.
If you enjoy Mexican-inspired comfort food, you may also like these easy Mexican dinner ideas for more festive meal inspiration.
10 Ground Turkey Slow Cooker Recipes
1. Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili
Brown 1 to 1 1/4 pounds of lean ground turkey with one diced yellow onion and two minced garlic cloves. Add it to the Crockpot with one diced green bell pepper, a 28-ounce can of crushed or diced tomatoes, a 15-ounce can of tomato sauce, two drained 15-ounce cans of kidney, black, or pinto beans, and 1 to 2 cups of chicken broth.
Season with 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 tablespoon cumin, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 4 to 6 hours on LOW or 2 to 3 hours on HIGH, then serve with avocado, cilantro, sour cream, or shredded cheese.
2. Slow-Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes
For a saucy sandwich filling, brown 1 pound of ground turkey with one finely chopped small onion, 1/2 chopped green bell pepper, and two minced garlic cloves. Stir in 1 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup water or chicken broth, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon apple-cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Cook for 3 to 4 hours on LOW or 1 1/2 to 2 hours on HIGH. Spoon the thick filling onto six toasted hamburger buns; if the sauce is thin, cook it uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes or add 1 tablespoon tomato paste.
For another cozy skillet-style dinner, try this easy one-pot stroganoff, which pairs well with the same simple green salad.
3. Slow-Cooker Turkey Meatballs in Marinara
Gently combine 1 pound ground turkey with one large egg, 1/2 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, two minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Shape the mixture into approximately 20 to 24 meatballs without packing it too firmly.
Pour one 24-ounce jar of marinara into the slow cooker and nestle in the raw meatballs. Cook for 4 to 6 hours on LOW or 2 to 3 hours on HIGH, checking that the centers reach 165°F; serve over pasta, polenta, or toasted bread.
4. Slow-Cooker Turkey Taco Filling
Brown 1 pound ground turkey with one diced small onion and two minced garlic cloves. Transfer it to the slow cooker with one 8-ounce can tomato sauce, 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
Cook for 3 to 4 hours on LOW or 1 1/2 to 2 hours on HIGH, breaking up large pieces before serving. Spoon the filling into eight small tortillas or taco shells and top with lettuce, cheddar or Monterey Jack, tomato, sour cream, salsa, and avocado.
Serve these tacos with a pot of slow cooker tortilla soup when you want a warm, generously topped Mexican-inspired meal.
5. Slow-Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup
This soup has the comforting flavor of stuffed peppers without the extra assembly. Brown 1 pound of ground turkey with one diced onion and two minced garlic cloves, then add it to the slow cooker with two diced bell peppers, a 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes, a 15-ounce can of tomato sauce, 3 cups chicken broth, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
Cook for 4 to 5 hours on LOW or 2 to 3 hours on HIGH. Add 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice during the final 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the rice, or cook it separately and stir it into each bowl to prevent mushiness.
6. Slow-Cooker Turkey Bolognese
Brown 1 pound ground turkey with one finely diced onion, one finely diced carrot, one finely diced celery stalk, and three minced garlic cloves. Add the mixture to the Crockpot with a 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, a 6-ounce can tomato paste, 1/2 cup dry red wine or chicken broth, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Cook for 6 to 8 hours on LOW or 3 to 4 hours on HIGH. Stir in 1/2 cup whole milk during the final 30 minutes, then serve the sauce over 12 ounces of separately cooked spaghetti or another pasta.
7. Slow-Cooker Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili
Combine browned turkey from 1 pound of ground meat with one diced onion and two minced garlic cloves. Add two peeled, uniformly cut 1-inch sweet potatoes, one drained 15-ounce can black beans, one 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, one 8-ounce can tomato sauce, 2 cups chicken broth, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Cook for 5 to 6 hours on LOW or 2 1/2 to 3 hours on HIGH, until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender. Add the beans during the last hour if you prefer them to stay firmer.
8. Slow-Cooker Turkey Enchilada Quinoa
Brown 1 pound ground turkey with one small diced onion and two minced garlic cloves. Add it to the slow cooker with 1 cup thoroughly rinsed quinoa, one drained 15-ounce can black beans, one drained 15-ounce can corn, one 10-ounce can red enchilada sauce, one 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, 1 cup chicken broth, 1 tablespoon chili powder, and 1 teaspoon cumin.
Cook for 3 to 4 hours on LOW, or until the quinoa is tender, stirring once or twice if possible. Add 1 cup shredded Mexican-blend cheese during the final 10 to 15 minutes, and check early because quinoa can become soft if held too long.
9. Slow-Cooker Turkey Cabbage Soup
Brown 1 pound ground turkey with one diced onion and two minced garlic cloves. Add it to the Crockpot with 4 cups chopped green cabbage, two sliced carrots, two sliced celery stalks, one 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, 6 cups chicken broth, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, one bay leaf, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
Cook for 6 to 8 hours on LOW or 3 to 4 hours on HIGH. Remove the bay leaf before serving and brighten the broth with a small splash of lemon juice or red-wine vinegar.
10. Slow-Cooker Turkey Lasagna Soup
Brown 1 pound ground turkey with one diced onion and three minced garlic cloves. Add it to the slow cooker with a 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, a 15-ounce can tomato sauce, 4 cups chicken broth, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
Cook the soup base for 6 to 7 hours on LOW. Break eight lasagna noodles into pieces and stir them in during the final 30 to 45 minutes, cooking until just tender; serve each bowl with ricotta, shredded mozzarella, and grated Parmesan.
How to Make It Step-by-Step
Step 1: Read through the selected recipe and chop every vegetable before turning on the stove. Slow cooker meals are easiest when the onion, garlic, peppers, carrots, celery, sweet potatoes, or cabbage are ready to add.
Step 2: Brown the ground turkey in a skillet with the onion and garlic, adding any recipe-specific vegetables that benefit from sautéing. Break the turkey into small crumbles, drain excess fat, and transfer the mixture to the slow cooker for deeper savory flavor.
Step 3: Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, beans, vegetables, and seasonings according to the chosen recipe. Stir gently, scraping any browned bits from the skillet into the mixture if desired.
Step 4: If making meatballs, skip browning and mix the turkey gently with egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley, garlic, and seasonings. Shape 20 to 24 meatballs, pour marinara into the slow cooker, and nestle the meatballs into the sauce.
Step 5: Cover and cook for the recommended LOW or HIGH time. Check early when using very lean turkey, since prolonged cooking can make crumbles dry.
Step 6: Add rice, quinoa, milk, cheese, or noodles at the correct late-cooking stage. These ingredients need less time and can lose their best texture when added at the beginning.
Step 7: Check that the turkey or meatballs reach 165°F, taste for seasoning, and serve with the suggested toppings or starch. Keep toppings such as avocado, sour cream, cilantro, and cheese off the heat until serving.
Pro Tips for Better Crockpot Turkey Dinners
- Choose a 1- to 1 1/4-pound package of ground turkey for a family-size recipe.
- Do not overmix meatball ingredients, or the meatballs may become compact and tough.
- Chill shaped meatballs for 15 to 20 minutes if they feel difficult to handle.
- Rinse quinoa thoroughly to remove its natural bitter coating.
- Cut sweet potatoes into equal 1-inch cubes so they cook at the same rate.
- Toast buns for sloppy Joes and warm tortillas before filling tacos.
- Cook pasta separately for Bolognese, and store it apart from lasagna soup when possible.
For a special dessert after dinner, finish with this slow cooker pumpkin cheesecake. It is a useful reminder that the Crockpot can handle more than savory meals.
Storage and Reheating
Cool leftovers promptly and refrigerate them in covered containers for up to 3 to 4 days. Chili, soups, sloppy Joe filling, meatballs, and Bolognese generally reheat well in a saucepan over medium-low heat or in the microwave.
Rice, quinoa, and noodles continue absorbing liquid as they sit, so store them separately whenever practical. Add a splash of broth or water while reheating soup, and warm meatballs gently in marinara so they remain tender.
Serving Ideas for Easy Dinners
Set out a small topping bar and let everyone finish dinner their own way. Shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, chopped cilantro, diced tomato, salsa, lettuce, and sliced green onion work especially well with the chili, taco filling, and enchilada quinoa.
Pair the soups with cornbread, crusty bread, or a crisp green salad. Sloppy Joes belong on toasted buns, meatballs are excellent with pasta or garlic bread, and Bolognese can turn a plain weeknight into a comforting Italian-style dinner.
For another slow cooker main course to add to your meal plan, try these slow cooker chicken cordon bleu ideas for a creamy, savory change of pace.
10 Ground Turkey Slow Cooker Recipes for Easy Dinners
Ingredients
Method
- Brown ground turkey with the onion and garlic, adding bell pepper, carrot, or celery when the recipe calls for them. Drain excess fat and transfer the cooked mixture to the slow cooker.
- Add the appropriate tomatoes, sauce, broth, beans, vegetables, grains, or seasonings for the selected recipe. Stir gently so the ingredients are evenly distributed.
- For meatballs, mix the turkey gently with egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, and seasonings, then form 20 to 24 meatballs. Pour marinara into the slow cooker and nestle the raw meatballs into the sauce.
- Cover and cook according to the recipe timing, generally 4 to 8 hours on LOW or about half as long on HIGH. Check lean turkey dishes early because they can dry out if cooked beyond the recommended time.
- Add ingredients that need a shorter cooking time near the end, including rice for the stuffed pepper soup, milk for the Bolognese, quinoa toppings, and broken lasagna noodles. Follow the timing given for each recipe so grains and pasta stay tender instead of mushy.
- Confirm that cooked ground turkey and meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Taste the finished dish and adjust salt, pepper, or a small splash of lemon juice or red-wine vinegar where appropriate.
- Serve with the recommended toppings, pasta, tortillas, buns, or cheese. Cool leftovers promptly and store pasta or rice separately when possible for the best reheated texture.
Notes
Final Thoughts
These 10 ground turkey slow cooker recipes give you a dependable answer to the question of what to make for dinner. Brown the turkey when recommended, add the ingredients in the right order, and pay special attention to late additions such as rice, quinoa, milk, cheese, and noodles.
Whether you choose smoky sweet potato chili, saucy sloppy Joes, tender meatballs, or bubbling lasagna soup, every option delivers hearty comfort with manageable preparation. Save this Crockpot roundup for busy weeks, then customize each bowl with fresh toppings and your favorite sides.