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A neatly organized healthy ground turkey meal prep container with vegetables.

Hearty Southwestern Ground Turkey & Quinoa Bowls

These Hearty Southwestern Ground Turkey & Quinoa Bowls are packed with flavor and make for a perfect meal prep solution, providing a balance of protein, carbs, and vegetables for a healthy and satisfying meal.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8 bowls
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Large pot or Dutch oven
  • Saucepan
  • Baking sheet
  • Airtight meal prep containers

Ingredients
  

Ground Turkey Base

  • 3 lbs lean ground turkey
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes undrained
  • 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth

Quinoa

  • 2 cups quinoa uncooked
  • 4 cups water or vegetable broth for quinoa

Roasted Vegetables & Garnish

  • 2 bell peppers (any color) chopped
  • 1 zucchini chopped
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish
  • Lime wedges for serving
  • black beans optional
  • corn optional
  • avocado optional
  • salsa optional for topping

Instructions
 

Cooking the Turkey Base

  • Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, then sauté chopped onion for about 5 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for one minute more until fragrant.
  • Add ground turkey to the pot, break it apart, and cook until no longer pink, draining any fat.
  • Season the turkey with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper, stirring to combine.
  • Pour in diced tomatoes and broth, bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 10-15 minutes to meld flavors. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

Cooking the Quinoa

  • While the turkey simmers, rinse the quinoa thoroughly in a separate saucepan. Combine rinsed quinoa with water or broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
  • Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork and allow it to cool completely.

Roasting Vegetables

  • Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C), then toss chopped bell peppers and zucchini with olive oil, salt, and pepper on a baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes until tender-crisp, then let them cool completely.

Assembling and Storing Meals

  • For refrigeration (Days 1-4), divide half of the turkey mixture, half of the quinoa, and roasted vegetables equally among 4 airtight meal prep containers.
  • For freezing (Days 5-9), divide the remaining turkey mixture, quinoa, and roasted vegetables equally among 4-5 freezer-safe airtight containers.
  • Allow all cooked components to cool completely before portioning, then store refrigerated meals in the fridge for up to 4 days, and freeze the rest immediately.

Serving

  • To reheat, microwave until piping hot, then garnish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice.
  • Optionally, add toppings like black beans, corn, avocado, or salsa just before serving.

Notes

This recipe is ideal for meal prepping and can be easily customized with your favorite toppings. Ensure all components are completely cooled before storing to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage. When reheating, add a splash of water or broth to prevent drying out.