Ground Turkey with Potatoes: 1 Shocking Skillet Win

Ugh, those weeknights, right? When the kids are bouncing off the walls and you realize dinner is about twenty minutes away from being a total disaster. I used to panic in those moments until I perfected this dish! I first made this skillet meal on a busy weeknight when I needed a quick dinner for my family. I combined spices and vegetables with ingredients I had available, and the dish became an instant success. The comforting smell filled the kitchen, and my family enjoyed it. This simple skillet recipe, which I call Ground Turkey with Potatoes: A Hearty Skillet Classic, shows that fast meals can be nourishing and delicious, bringing your family together.

Honestly, it’s my go-to when speed and satisfaction are non-negotiable. Mark Williams here, The Keto Performance Chef, and trust me, this hearty family meal is your new weeknight hero!

Why You Will Love This Ground Turkey with Potatoes: A Hearty Skillet Classic

If you’re battling that 5 PM rush, this dish is designed for you! We keep it incredibly fast so you can get dinner on the table without stress. It’s packed with flavor, which is why my family asks for it constantly. You get lean protein and carbs that stick to your ribs, making for a truly satisfying dinner.

Here’s why this Ground Turkey with Potatoes: A Hearty Skillet Classic is the best:

• Fast Preparation for Weeknights: Seriously, we are looking at 30 minutes total time, including the quick potato chop. You can find more ideas for speedy eats here: quick weeknight dinners.
• A Truly Hearty Family Meal: Ground turkey and potatoes together make a filling combination! No one is heading back to the pantry an hour later.
• Simple Pantry Dinner Convenience: Most of the spices and staples should already be chilling in your cupboards. It’s the perfect last-minute meal solution.

Essential Ingredients for Ground Turkey with Potatoes: A Hearty Skillet Classic

Okay, here’s the rundown on what you need to pull this Ground Turkey with Potatoes: A Hearty Skillet Classic together. The beauty of this dish is that it relies on simple things, but getting the details right makes all the difference for flavor, trust me! For tips on nailing temperatures and ingredient prep, check out my guide to ultimate dinner ideas.

You’ll want to gather these items before you even turn the stove on. For an external look at some similar flavors, you can see what The Whole Cook does over here: ground turkey potato skillet recipe.

For the Ground Turkey Base

This is where we build the savory foundation. I always grab the 93/7 lean ground turkey because I hate draining fat, but you can totally swap in ground beef if you’re feeling it!

• 1 lb lean ground turkey (93/7 recommended; ground beef can be substituted)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano

For the Potato and Sauce Mixture

Don’t skip dicing those potatoes small! Tiny cubes cook much faster so you aren’t waiting forever. This mixture gives us that comforting sauce.

• 2 tbsp olive or avocado oil
• 4 cups diced potatoes (Dice small to cook quickly)
• 8 oz canned tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tsp garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp onion powder

Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Ground Turkey with Potatoes: A Hearty Skillet Classic

This recipe is so straightforward, even if you’re having one of those days where you feel like you can’t cook water! We are keeping the chaos low and the flavor high. This whole process takes just about 30 minutes total, which is why it has earned its spot as a regular when I need foolproof cooking. You can find my personal guide for even the trickiest steps right here: foolproof dinner ideas.

Browning the Ground Turkey

Get that skillet hot over medium high heat. Toss the ground turkey right in there. Now, I want you to use that spatula—get in there and break it up into small bits as it cooks. Once it’s totally browned through, sprinkle in the first round of seasoning: salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and oregano. Mix it all up so the meat sucks up that flavor! Then, scoop that seasoned turkey out and set it aside on a plate. Don’t wipe the pan clean; we need those tasty brown bits for the next step!

Sautéing the Potatoes

Add your 2 tablespoons of oil to the same hot skillet. Once it shimmers a bit, dump in your specially diced potatoes. This is where we build texture! Keep the heat at medium high and let them sit enough to get some color on those edges. You’ll need to stir them every so often, but let them have some contact with the pan. This browning process usually takes about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on your stove gods! We want them nicely browned before we move on.

Simmering the Skillet Dinner Recipe

Time to bring it all home! Reduce the heat down to medium now. Add that cooked ground turkey back into the skillet with the potatoes. Pour in the canned tomato sauce and the water. Then, toss in all the remaining spices: minced garlic, oregano, basil, parsley, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Give the whole mixture a good stir, cover the skillet, and let it simmer gently for about 5 minutes. You are waiting for those little potato cubes to get perfectly tender. Honestly, this skillet dinner recipe comes together so fast!

Tips for Success with Ground Turkey and Potatoes

You know, even with a quick recipe like this one, taking an extra second on certain steps makes the overall result so much better. When you’re throwing together this ground turkey and potatoes combo, trust me on these two little secrets. If you’re looking to knock your cooking time down even further, maybe take a peek at some 20-minute dinner ideas!

Potato Size Matters for Even Cooking

I can’t stress this enough: If your potatoes aren’t diced small and roughly the same size, they won’t cook evenly in that short simmer time. Aim for cubes that are about half an inch, maybe just a tiny bit smaller. We want tender potatoes across the board when we serve this hearty family meal, not some that are mushy and some that are still hard!

Adjusting Seasoning for Your Family

Whenever you simmer something with tomato sauce, the saltiness can change as the liquids reduce. That’s why the recipe tells you to taste it right at the end! Don’t be shy about adding another pinch of salt or pepper after the 5-minute simmer. You know your family’s preferences best, so this final check ensures everything tastes exactly how you want it.

Making This Ground Turkey with Potatoes: A Hearty Skillet Classic Ahead of Time

I know sometimes you just need to cook once and eat twice, right? I totally get it. This Ground Turkey with Potatoes: A Hearty Skillet Classic stores beautifully, which is great when you’re trying to maximize your time. It’s the definition of meal prep success without having to actually “prep” much! If you’re into making big batches of things, you might want to check out some of my favorite make-ahead tips for breakfast bakes too: make-ahead breakfast ideas.

Storage and Reheating

You can keep your leftovers tucked securely in an airtight container right in the fridge for up to three or four days. When it’s time to eat, I actually prefer reheating it right back in the skillet over medium-low heat. Adding just a tiny splash of water or broth helps bring back that lovely saucy texture from the first day. The microwave works fine in a pinch, but the stovetop keeps the potatoes from getting too dry, which is important!

Serving Suggestions for Your Hearty Family Meal

Since this skillet is already loaded with protein and potatoes, you just need something green or grain-based on the bottom to make it a truly complete and hearty family meal. I usually opt for simplicity because, let’s face it, we were cooking fast to begin with!

The recipe notes mention serving it over rice or cauliflower rice, which is fantastic for soaking up all that delicious, savory sauce. If you want something roasted on the side, a quick batch of easy roasted broccoli works wonders. For a little something extra green that tastes gourmet but is super fast, try making some roasted asparagus with parmesan—it only takes about 15 minutes while the skillet simmers!

Frequently Asked Questions About This Skillet Dinner Recipe

When you’re making something fast like this, questions always pop up! I’ve gathered the things folks ask me most often about this skillet dinner recipe. If you’re looking for even shorter options—like seriously minimal shopping—you should peep my 5-ingredient dinner ideas here.

Can I use frozen potatoes instead of fresh in this ground turkey and potatoes dish?

Oh, that’s a great question for a real time-saver! You absolutely can use frozen, cubed potatoes, but you need to skip the initial oil-sautéing step. Just toss them in straight with the meat and sauce. Just be warned: frozen potatoes release a ton of extra water, so your simmering time might need to stretch closer to 10 or 12 minutes instead of 5 to make sure everything thickens up nicely and the ground turkey and potatoes are perfectly tender.

How can I make this a simple pantry dinner if I don’t have tomato sauce?

If your pantry is looking sad on the tomato front, don’t sweat it! You can absolutely turn this into a simple pantry dinner substitute. Instead of the 8 oz of sauce, use about 1/2 cup of vegetable or chicken broth combined with a tablespoon of tomato paste if you have that. You might miss a tiny bit of sweetness, so add an extra sprinkle of that onion powder or perhaps a teaspoon of brown sugar if you have some hiding around!

Is this skillet dinner recipe easy to adapt for more servings?

Yes, it scales up like a dream! This is wonderful for batching. If you double everything to feed a bigger crowd, just keep an eye on your skillet size—you don’t want to overcrowd it because that prevents the browning step from working well. When you double the batch, add maybe 3 or 4 extra minutes to that final simmer time. That ensures all those extra potatoes cook through evenly in the larger volume.

Nutritional Estimates for Ground Turkey with Potatoes: A Hearty Skillet Classic

When I’m whipping up this Ground Turkey with Potatoes: A Hearty Skillet Classic, I love that it’s a solid meal without feeling heavy. These numbers below are just estimates based on the standard ingredients I use for 4 servings, so little variations in your turkey fat content can change things slightly. If you’re keeping an eye on calories, you can check out some of my favorite calorie-smart ideas here: calorie-smart recipes.

• Calories: 437
• Protein: 27g
• Fat: 17g (Saturated Fat: 4g)
• Carbohydrates: 46g (Fiber: 7g)

Share Your Experience Making This Ground Turkey and Potatoes Skillet

Whew! I hope you loved making this super satisfying weeknight dinner. Seriously, hearing from you makes my day! If this Ground Turkey and Potatoes Skillet saved your dinner plans this week, I’d love if you could leave a star rating below. You can always reach out if you have questions or want to swap ingredients; just use the contact page here: get in touch. Happy cooking, friends!