Ground Turkey Teriyaki Stir Fry

Tasty and Kid Friendly

We love this healthy, kid friendly ground turkey teriyaki stir fry recipe for weeknights. I have even made this recipe when my son has friends over as an alternative to other kid meals like pizza or chicken nuggets.  Calling it a “weeknight” meal sounds like it has to be rushed and something you want to get over with.  Such the contrary with this dish!  We have made it for guests and eaten outside on a warm summer night as well as made it for hungry boys after baseball practice.  It is a win no matter when! Making your own teriyaki sauce is easier than you think, and with this fresh ginger flavor, you may never buy pre-bottled again.

Ground Turkey Teriyaki Ingredients

If you like to cook Asian style, you may have many of the teriyaki sauce ingredients already in your pantry. For making your own sauce per this recipe directions, you’ll need low sodium soy sauce, water, honey, brown sugar, and red or white wine vinegar.  In terms of fresh ingredients, garlic and fresh ginger are key components.  To thicken the sauce, you’ll also need cornstarch. Sesame seeds are a great finishing touch as well.

I am always trying to rotate the types of meat I serve each week, and having a flavorful ground turkey recipe is key to varying the home menu. If you find many ground turkey recipes to be bland, this teriyaki meal is far from it. Although this recipe calls for onions, broccoli and carrots, there are other vegetable substitutions that make it just as good.

Making Your Own Sauce

Truth be told, making your own teriyaki sauce does add about 15 minutes onto the prep time. But the fresh ginger flavor is worth 15 minutes to me! In order to prepare this sauce, simply combine the soy sauce, water, honey, brown sugar, fresh garlic, and fresh ginger in a sauce pan, combining over medium heat.

Then, whisk together warm water and corn starch, separately until combined.  Add this mixture to the sauce and stir over medium heat until it thickens. Finally, take off of the heat and set aside.

Next, prepare the ground turkey and veggies as directed in the recipe below and then add the sauce over the top, combining and heating through. Finally, serve this over warm basmati or favorite white rice and then top with cashews and chopped green onions.

Tips and Substitutions

There are so many ways to adapt and make this ground turkey teriyaki stir fry recipe your own!

• Although we do recommend taking the 15 minutes to make the sauce, you can substitute a pre-bottled teriyaki sauce like Soy Vay Veri Teriyaki.  This recipe makes slightly more than the recipe needs, however, I have found that sometimes my kids like extra sauce.  So be sure to monitor how much you are adding for the dish, not over saturating, but reserving for those who do enjoy extra sauce.
• I have also substituted one or more of the veggies with chopped mushrooms and/ or celery.
• If you are going low carb or your kids are not rice fans, try skipping the rice and making lettuce wraps with the turkey veggie filling inside iceberg or romaine leaves.
• Other delicious toppings to consider:  for people who like the crunch- add won tons or crispy rice noodles; for those who like a tangy sweet finish- try sweet chili sauce; to spice things up for the adults- add sriracha sauce to the top.

Ground Turkey Teriyaki Stir Fry

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• Author: Gnarly Roots
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 4-5 servings 1x

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Description

This flavorful and family friendly recipe is a healthy weeknight treat.

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Ingredients

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For the Teriyaki Sauce:

• 1 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 T honey
• 4 T brown sugar
• 4 T vinegar (red or white wine vinager)
• 2 large cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• 2 tsp fresh ginger, minced
• Separately whisk together until combined: 2 T cornstarch and 4 T warm water
• NOTE:  This makes slightly more sauce than the recipe needs, however, I have found that sometimes my kids like extra sauce.

For the Stir Fry:

• 2 T olive oil
• 1/2 chopped yellow sweet onion
• 2 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb ground turkey, *85% lean
• 1 1/2 cup chopped broccoli
• 1 cup finely chopped carrots
• 2 cups prepared rice (we like basmati rice)

For the toppings:

• chopped cashew
• chopped green onion
• optional sesame seeds

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Instructions

1. Start by making the sauce. Add all sauce ingredients to a small sauce pan over medium heat to combine.  Once sugar and honey are combined with other ingredients, add cornstarch/ water mixture gradually. Combine over medium heat until it thickens, then take off of the heat and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until translucent.
3. Cook rice per package directions.
4. Add ground turkey to the pan with the sautéed onions, crumbling it with a spatula as it browns. When about halfway cooked through, add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
5. Once turkey has hardly any pink, add in broccoli and carrots. Stir fry to combine and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
6. Add sauce slowly, combining with turkey and veggies as you add it.
7. KEY TIP:  Add enough to cover the turkey veggie mixture, but do not over saturate. So be sure to monitor how much you are adding for the dish,  reserving for those who do enjoy extra sauce.You may have some reserve sauce left over.
8. Allow to simmer and let flavors combine for a few minutes.
9. Serve over rice and top with cashews and green onions.

Notes

• If in a time crunch, use bottled Soy Vay Veri Teriyaki Sauce instead of making your own
• Substitute chopped mushrooms and or celery for the veggies
• Additional yummy toppings to try: crunchy won ton or rice noodles; sweet chili sauce, and/ or sriracha sauce for an extra spicy kick
• Instead of serving over rice, try substituting ice berg or romaine lettuce leaves and make lettuce wraps

• Prep Time: 30
• Cook Time: 30