Name: Ground Turkey Teriyaki Stir Fry
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce; 1/2 cup water; 4 T honey; 4 T brown sugar; 4 T vinegar (red or white wine vinegar); 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.; 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); chopped cashew; chopped green onion; optional sesame seeds

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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 already have many of the teriyaki sauce ingredients in your pantry. To make your own sauce per this recipe’s 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 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

teriyaki sauce cooking in a pot on the stove

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

All ingredients of the stirfry cooking in a wok on the stove. Chopped broccoli, ground turkey, slivers of carrots, all mixed together with the stirfry sauce.

Tips and Substitutions

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

Although we recommend taking 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 dish needs, however, I have found that sometimes my kids like extra sauce. Monitor how much sauce you add to the dish. Avoid over-saturating with sauce, and reserve some for those who enjoy extra sauce.
I have also the veggies in the recipe 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: wontons or crispy rice noodles for crunch; sweet chili sauce for a tangy sweet finish; Sriracha sauce for some spice.
If you like this style of meal, you may also enjoy these other Asian-inspired recipes: Coconut Curry Soup, Chicken Lettuce Wraps, and Weeknight Chicken Curry.