Cheesy Ground Turkey Rice Skillet with Marinara Sauce

By Maria Lichty

Published on January 27, 2025

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Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Ground Turkey Rice Skillet

This dish is the ultimate weeknight meal, and here’s why:

• Quick & Easy: It only takes about 30 minutes to make, so it’s perfect for busy nights.
• Nutritious & Flavor Packed: Ground turkey is a lean protein and the brown rice provides a whole grain base that adds fiber! The marinara sauce adds a burst of savory flavor, and the melted cheese ties everything together. I also sneak in some shredded zucchini. I promise your kids won’t even know it’s there.
• Minimal Clean-Up: You cook everything in one skillet, saving time and effort.
• Great for Meal Prep: It holds up well in the fridge, so you can easily portion out your meals and enjoy them throughout the week.

Key Ingredients

This dish is simple, using ingredients you likely already have in your pantry or fridge. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Ground Turkey: The lean protein that forms the base of the dish. You can also use ground chicken or lean ground beef if preferred.
• Rice: Cook the rice BEFORE adding to the skillet. I love making this recipe when I have leftover rice. I use brown rice, but you can use white rice. Quinoa, farro, or orzo are also good options. For a low-carb alternative and a boost of veggies, you can use cauliflower rice.
• Zucchini: Shredded zucchini keeps the turkey moist and is an easy way to add in a vegetable. It blends right in. Feel free to add in additional veggies like mushrooms, bell peppers, or spinach.
• Marinara Sauce: A jar of your favorite marinara sauce adds all the flavors you need with minimal effort. You can use homemade marinara. I like to keep some in the freezer so it’s always ready to go!
• Cheese: Shredded mozzarella cheese gives this dish its signature cheesy, gooey goodness. Feel free to experiment with other cheeses like cheddar or provolone. I also like to add freshly grated Parmesan on top for the perfect finishing touch.
• Seasonings: A combination of Italian seasoning, onion, garlic, and crushed red pepper will elevate the flavor of your skillet.

How to Make Ground Turkey Rice Skillet

• Cook the onion and garlic. We are starting with 2 flavor powerhouses, onion and garlic. In a large skillet (I prefer cast iron), ook until the onion is translucent and then add the garlic and cook for 1 minutes.

• Brown the ground turkey. Add the ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. This should take about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

• Add the zucchini. Stir in the shredded zucchini and seasonings and cook for 2 minutes.

• Add the marinara sauce, rice, & cheese. Stir in the marinara sauce, cooked rice, and ½ cup of shredded mozzarella. Stir until the cheese is melted.

• Top with cheese. Top with remaining mozzarella cheeese and then the freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

• Broil. Preheat the broiler. Place the skillet under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly browned. Don’t walk away because the cheese will brown quickly and you don’t want to burn it.
• Garnish. Remove from oven and garnish with fresh basil.

Serving Suggestions

This dish is a meal on its own, but if you’re looking for sides to round out the meal, consider the following:

• Side Salad: Our easy green salad, arugula salad, simple kale salad, Caesar salad, and butter lettuce salad are all good options.
• Bread: A warm slice of garlic bread or crusty bread would be perfect for soaking up the marinara sauce. Or start the meal with bruschetta.
• Roasted Vegetables: Broccoli, green beans, carrots, asparagus, or brussels sprouts make for a great veggie side.

How to Store and Reheat

• Storage: Let cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freezing: You can also freeze this dish for up to 3 months in a freezer container.
• Reheating: To reheat, simply microwave until heated through or heat it in a skillet over low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. If reheating from frozen, allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge before heating.

More Easy Dinner Recipes

• Turkey Tacos
• Skillet Chicken Enchiladas
• Cheesy Rice and Bean Skillet
• Turkey Burgers
• Easy Skillet Chicken Thighs
• One Pot Sausage Pasta

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Main Dishes

Cheesy Ground Turkey Rice Skillet with Marinara Sauce

This is a perfect weeknight dinner that delivers big on flavor with minimal effort. Packed with lean protein, whole grains, and a melty cheese topping, it’s a meal that’s both satisfying and nutritious.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  

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• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 large yellow onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lb ground turkey,
• 1 small zucchini, shredded (½ cup)
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
• Crushed red pepper flakes optional, to taste
• 25 oz marinara sauce
• 1 cup cooked brown rice or white rice
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
• Finely chopped basil, for garnish

Instructions

 

• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the ground turkey and cook, stirring and breaking apart the turkey with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the shredded zucchini, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and crushed pepper flakes. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the marinara sauce, cooked rice, and ½ cup shredded mozzarella. Stir until combined and cheese is melted. Top with remaining ½ cup mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
• Preheat the broiler. Place the skillet under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly browned. Watch closely. Remove from oven and garnish with fresh basil. Serve.

Notes

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze for up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 26g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 60mg, Sodium: 792mg, Potassium: 732mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 764IU, Vitamin C: 15mg, Calcium: 169mg, Iron: 2mg

Keywords cheese, ground turkey, marinara sauce, rice

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