For those following a ketogenic diet, finding satisfying and flavorful recipes can sometimes feel like a challenge. However, with ground turkey and cream cheese, the possibilities are endless! These versatile ingredients can be combined to create a variety of delicious and easy keto-friendly meals that will keep you on track while tantalizing your taste buds. Let's explore some mouthwatering keto recipes featuring ground turkey and cream cheese.
Low Carb Ground Turkey Casseroles
Low carb casseroles with ground turkey are the kind of meal that makes you feel good about what you’re eating while still delivering all the golden bubbly cheese, savory turkey, vegetables, and of course a special twist-crunchy everything bagel spice topping. It’s one of our all time favorite recipes to make with ground turkey. Ground turkey can sometimes get a bad rap as being bland, but its adaptability is actually its superpower. This lighter, easy-going protein is a guaranteed win at the dinner table and makes great meatballs, burgers, or chili!
Why You'll Love These Recipes
- Incredible Flavor: These recipes are extra creamy and comforting.
- Ridiculously Easy: Just minutes of prep time and a quick bake.
- Meal Prep Magic: Store leftovers in an airtight container for a quick lunch or dinner the next day.
Key Ingredients
- Ground Turkey: Lean, high-protein, and a great alternative to ground beef or ground chicken.
- Cauliflower Rice: The secret to keeping this a low carb turkey casserole! You can make your own riced cauliflower by chopping fresh cauliflower in a food processor.
- Marinara Sauce: Adds a nice sauciness and amps up the Italian vibes. Use store-bought or homemade.
- Green Onions & Baby Spinach: Bagged, pre-washed spinach or kale is a secret weapon for adding color and freshness to recipes.
- Parmesan & Everything Bagel Seasoning: Check the ingredients on your everything bagel spice to see if it has salt (some brands do and some brands don’t). If it has salt added, keep the salt amount in the casserole at 1/2 teaspoon. If it doesn’t increase the measured salt amount to 1 teaspoon.
Adaptations and Variations
This recipe is endlessly adaptable. Sprinkle on some red pepper flakes for a little heat. And don’t forget: this is a great way to use up whatever you have in your fridge. Got a little bit of leftover chicken, some black olives, or extra cheddar cheese? Toss them in!
- Cheese Options: Try adding cheddar cheese or extra cheese for a keto casserole.
- Spice It Up: Swap the bagel seasoning for taco seasoning for a Mexican casserole twist.
- Protein Alternatives: Ground beef, leftover rotisserie chicken, or even extra leftover turkey from the holidays are great additions and make this a fantastic leftover turkey casserole recipe. You could even try ground chicken for a lighter option.
Keto Taco Casserole
The Keto Taco Casserole Recipe is a flavorful and easy meal that the entire family will enjoy whether everyone follows a keto diet or not! Ground beef or turkey seasoned with taco spice mix, then topped with tomatoes, olives, and green onions.
Key Ingredients
- Lean ground beef or ground turkey.
- Homemade taco seasoning - make your own and keep it stocked in your spice drawer. You will need 3-4 tablespoons, so if you buy the packets you’ll need 2.
- Rotel tomatoes - pick mild, medium or hot. I use the original style. You’ll use 1/2 cup of this, so the remaining can you can mix in this cheese nacho sauce. Alternatively, you can add diced tomatoes and add 2-4 ounces of chopped green chiles.
- Cheese - cream cheese and shredded cheese.
Instructions
- Lightly spray a 9-inch by 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat cook ground beef or turkey. Add taco seasoning and cook until meat is no longer pink.
- Add Rotel tomatoes and cream cheese. Reduce heat to medium and stir until cheese melts and tomatoes are distributed through the taco meat.
- Place cooked meat in prepared baking dish. Top with sour cream, fresh diced tomatoes, olives and green onions.
- Add shredded cheese and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly on the sides.
- Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving.
The best part of this meal is that the options are limitless by adding your favorite Mexican flavors.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Ground Turkey & Cauliflower Rice Skillet
This low carb Ground Turkey & Cauliflower Rice Skillet is a family staple meal. It is creamy, cheesy, and has the perfect amount of spice. It’s loaded with turkey, onion, cheese, and the perfect blend of seasonings. This recipe makes 10 servings, so it is great for feeding a large family or for meal prepping! This is one of my favorite meal prepping meals because it reheats excellent and tastes just as good. It’s low in calories high in protein, & keto friendly too!
Key Ingredients
- Lean Ground Turkey - I used 3 pounds of 93% lean ground turkey but use whatever kind you would like!
- Dan-O’s - 1/2 tsp Spicy Dan-O’s Seasoning, or to taste.
- Cauliflower Rice - I used two 12 ounce bags of frozen cauliflower rice.
- Cheddar Cheese - I used 1/2 cup of mild shredded cheese.
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat (or two regular sized ones if you don’t have a super large one).
- Melt the butter and then add the onion & ground turkey. Break up the meat and cook until fully cooked through.
- Add the cream cheese to the skillet and stir until melted.
- Add in the chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, garlic powder, Dan-O’s, tomato paste, cauliflower rice, and salt & pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly.
- Garnish with parsley and chili pepper flakes.
You can store your leftover Ground Turkey & Cauliflower Rice Skillet in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Keto Turkey with Creamy Cheese Sauce
Make dinners and lunches extra special with this satisfying Keto Turkey Recipe with Creamy Cheese Sauce.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Season the turkey with salt and pepper on both sides.
- In a large oven-proof pan, heat 1/3 of the butter over medium heat. Fry the turkey for 8-10 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove the pan from heat and place it in the middle rack of the oven. Roast for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a serving platter and cover with a tent of foil. (NOTE: If the turkey is not done at 30 minutes or the internal temperature is not achieved, roast for another 15 minutes.)
- In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat along with the turkey drippings. Add the cream cheese and 3 cups of heavy whipping cream. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and let it simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Add the soy sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a small pan, heat the remaining butter over medium-high heat. Stir fry the capers until crispy.
- Slice the turkey into 1/2 inch slices. Pour the creamy cheese sauce over it and top with the crispy capers.
That sauce!! So yummy!!!
Tips and Tricks for Keto Cooking
Going on a diet does not mean that you cannot enjoy delicious food anymore. You just have to be creative with the recipes. What I love most about this recipe is that it takes less than 60 minutes to prepare! The creamy cheese sauce can also be used for other ingredients such as chicken, beef, or pork. The cheesy sauce would also be great as a vegetable dip. For side dishes, you can have broccoli or mashed cauliflower to pair with this meal. If you’re trying to lower your carb intake, this recipe also goes well with toasted garlic wheat bread instead of rice.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Cheese is one of the acceptable ingredients in the Keto diet. It is essentially low in carbs yet high in fat; which is among the requirements of a Keto diet. Although cheese is high in saturated fat, it hasn’t been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto