Curry ground turkey with rice and peas is full of warm, rich flavors but is super quick and easy to make! This 20-minute recipe is great for a weeknight dinner!
Today I'm in dire need of simple dinners that I can make with my eyes closed.
(Don't we all need a few of those in our back pocket at all times?!)
And you guys know I love me some curry recipes. I’ve shared my quick chicken curry, quick and easy vegetarian curry and my 20-minute coconut chicken curry.
All are worth checking out for sure.
And today I'm happy to finally be sharing another favorite that I make ALL the time!
The flavor is what made me fall in love with this curry ground turkey recipe.
It’s warm, rich and has so much depth from all the great spices that go into it. And the sweet green peas add both a pop of color and a hint of sweetness to balance out this recipe.
Seriously delicious!
But y’all, I have to admit, I also really love how easy this is!
I’m always looking for new easy ground turkey recipes and this one is on the regular rotation because it’s so simple to throw together. Great for those nights when you’re just not feeling it.
Yes, even as a food blogger, I have those too!
(I love this Italian ground turkey skillet for another easy dinner that's really family friendly. And check out this collection of easy ground turkey recipes for more inspiration!)
You can also see the Google web story for this curry ground turkey recipe.
In this recipe, you basically chop an onion and then just add everything else to the pan to cook. (You don’t even have to thaw the peas if they are frozen. Just add them right on in to thaw and warm through.)
Dinner is done!
And it only takes 20 minutes! Talk about weeknight winning!
(Oh, and this recipe is also gluten-free, paleo, whole 30 and can be low-carb, depending on how you serve it.)
So let's get cooking.
Now, I’ve got some notes, tips and substitutions coming up below on how to make curry ground turkey. Just tryin’ to be helpful.
If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
Ingredient Notes:
- Turkey: I use a 93% lean ground turkey for this recipe. You can use whichever kind you prefer, just drain off any excess grease in the pan if you have any.
- Other meats: You could substitute ground beef, pork, lamb or chicken in this recipe, though I haven’t tried it like that yet.
- Spices: Either curry powder or Garam masala will work in this recipe. I’ve tried both and loved it both ways.
- Want to add a spicy kick? Chop a jalapeño or red chili pepper and sauté it along with the onion. Or you could add ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes with the other spices to give it some heat.
- Peas: Frozen is my go to, but canned are OK too if that's what you prefer. If you aren't a fan of peas, you could skip them or wilt in some spinach instead.
Also, just a note that you’ll want to get your rice cooked and prepped separately. I left that out of the instructions because it depends on what you choose (white, brown, basmati, a rice blend, etc.)
And there are plenty of options depending on your tastes - or what’s in your pantry!
What rice should I serve this with?
- We love steamed brown rice in my house and that’s what I always have on hand.
- This would also work with regular white rice as well as basmati rice.
- If you have a favorite rice blend or boxed variety you like, go for that.
- It’s also great with easy cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
- You could even use a frozen pre-cooked rice to make this meal even easier. (I have some of the Trader Joe's frozen brown rice on hand in case of weeknight emergencies.)
Last thing, let's talk about what to do with any leftovers.
Leftover curry ground turkey, once cooled, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Reheat over medium low on the stove or use the microwave.
I hope you give this a try the next time you need a super flavorful but also really quick and easy dinner!
Happy cooking!
XO,
Kathryn
P.S. You can check out all of my turkey recipes for more cooking inspiration!
Curry Ground Turkey with Rice and Peas
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced small
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb. lean ground turkey, I use 93% lean
- 1 tablespoon curry powder or garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 1 cup frozen peas
For serving:
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
- Steamed brown rice
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil.
- Add onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and cook another minute.
- Add ground turkey the pan and and cook until browned through, about 7-8 minutes.
- Add the curry, cumin, coriander, salt, turmeric and ginger and stir well to combine.
- Stir in the tomatoes and peas until warmed through, 2-3 minutes.
- Serve the curried turkey and peas over steamed rice. Sprinkle with fresh parsley or cilantro and enjoy!
Margaret McNeill
This was FABULOUS! I served it over couscous instead of rice, and naan bread on the side. My family absolutely LOVED IT!! (I also "upped" the measurements of most of the spices, since we really like "Indian" flavors...Will definitely make this one again!! Thank you!
Kathryn
Yay, I'm so happy to hear you all loved it Margaret! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Margaret McNeill
(Oh, I also forgot to mention that J also added in a whole can of coconut milk, since the sauce seemed very thick, and I wanted to "stretch" it to feed 4 people generously!)
Kathryn
Yum! That sounds like a great addition!
Kelsey
This is a good base recipe and I appreciate how quick it is, although I did find it lacking in flavour. I doubled the tomatoes as I like more sauce and also increased the spices. It definitely needs spice and acidity.
Kathryn Doherty
Hi Kelsey, I'm sorry it wasn't flavorful enough for you on its own but I'm glad you found some ways to make it fit your tastes! 😊
Michelle
This did not lack flavor. It was so delicious.
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this Michelle! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Cindy
Wow, this was delicious and easy too! I followed the recipe and gobbled it up.
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy to hear you loved it! Thank you for sharing!
Tabetha
I agree, I ended up doubling the curry powder, doubling the cumin and tripling the salt with two tablespoons of sour cream before it tasted right.
Kathryn Doherty
Thanks for sharing Tabetha! I'm glad you made it work for you!
Dannielle
This recipe is AMAZEBALLS. I didnt have cumin so I had to use chili instead and cut up tomatoes with a little water. And it was still so yummy!
Kathryn Doherty
Oh I'm so happy to hear you loved it Dannielle!! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Margaret
This was really good ! My husband has told me for year he doesnt like curry and I decided I didnt believe him .. and I was right. He totally liked it!
Kathryn Doherty
Haha, I'm so glad you tried it out on him - and glad that you both enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Jessica
My family doesn't eat a lot of meat but I wanted to try this. Me, my husband and 2 young kids loved it. I didn't have any coriander so skipped it and I doubled the garlic. I also used from corn as that's what I had. Delicious. Will be putting it in the rotation as it's hard to find meals we all enjoy.
Kathryn Doherty
Yay, I'm so happy to hear you all loved it! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Caitlin
This looks delicious and easy! Could I sub fresh tomatoes for the canned? I have a bumper crop to use.
Kathryn Doherty
Hi, yes, I think you could sub fresh tomatoes. I would add them with the onion so they can cook down a bit. You may need to drain off any excess liquid they give off as well. Hope that helps!
Sandi
This was very good. Based on some of the other reviews, I added both garam masala and curry along with 2 tbs of tomato paste. Thanks for the recipe!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy you enjoyed it Sandi!
Leah
I did the garam masala and curry powder.together too. Works really well!
maxine callahan
This was amazing! I made dinner for my boyfriend and I and he is not a fan of many flavors, so I skipped out on the curry and added ginger and a bit more garam masala and he loved it! Definitely adding to my recipe book 🙂
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so glad you both enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing Maxine!
Mary
Doubled all of the spices and added a diced jalapeño to cook with my onion. I also added a heaping tablespoon of hot red curry paste. This was the best ground turkey I think I’ve ever had! Thank you!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this so much Mary! Thank you so much for sharing! 😊
Theresa
Hi, there,
I was wondering does the nutritional values include the rice? If so, could you provide the nutritional values for just the turkey preparation. Thanks
Kathryn Doherty
Hi Theresa! I just recalculated to make sure the numbers were correct without the rice or parsley/cilantro for serving, so the numbers you see now are just the turkey preparation. It's 310 calories, 15 grams of fat, 11 grams carbs and 43 grams protein per serving. (Other nutrition details are in the recipe card.) I hope that helps!
Jenna
I just made this and it was delicious! It was flavorful and smelled amazing while cooking. I served it over Jasmine rice. I can tell it will make for great leftovers too!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy to hear you loved it Jenna! Thanks so much for sharing. And yes, the leftovers are fabulous! 😊
Tiffany Johnson
This is truly one of the easiest most delicious recipes I've made!! Thank you so much!! I added some sauteed kale as a side with a little rice vinegar, nice addition! I've sent this to so many friends!!! Thanks again!
Kathryn Doherty
Oh I'm so happy to hear you love it Tiffany!! Thanks so much for sharing. And great idea, I love the kale and rice vinegar additions - yum! 😊
Kayla
It was delicious! The first time I’ve ever made curry! I looked through the comments prior to making and also added a can of coconut milk and a bit more curry powder. Will make again.
Kathryn Doherty
Yay, I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
bobi
I'm sorry. I really wanted to like this recipe but it wasn't my favorite. I wound up adding 1/4 tsp of onion, garlic, and cardamom powders, more curry powder and salt. I like tomatoes but I think I'm finding I don't like them in my curry. Both DH and I enjoyed the use of the ground turkey though.
Kathryn Doherty
Sorry to hear you didn't love it. Sounds like a different curry recipe, without tomatoes, might be a better fit for you.
Danielle
This was delicious! I used curry powder and garam masala and it was the perfect spice. We served/mixed it with cilantro lime rice. Thank you for this recipe!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy you enjoyed it Danielle! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Court
This is fantastic! I used about 12 oz crushed tomatoes instead of 14.5 oz diced tomatoes and it still turned out soo well! Thanks so much!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing!
Lorie
Will be making this tonight—sounds so good!
Kathryn Doherty
I hope you enjoy it Lorie!
Lorie
It was very good! Spices just right.
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy to hear it! Thanks for sharing! 😊
Leah
Very good! I added diced courgette, mushrooms and chickpeas. As someone else said, spices are just right!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy you enjoyed it Leah! And those additions sound delicious. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing!
Elizabeth
Excellent, flavor packed easy weeknight meal! I made it almost exactly as recipe says and found the spices to be perfect. This can be easily adapted to suit your tastes. Will be sharing with family/friends. Thank you!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it Elizabeth! Thank you so much for sharing!
Lelah
I really enjoyed your recipe. I served it with basmati rice and some steamed momos with dipping sauce.
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so glad you loved it Lelah! That sounds like a delicious meal all together! 🙂
Angie
Hello! I’m excited to try this recipe and I want to use spinach instead of peas (as my family doesn’t love peas) - would you recommend fresh or frozen spinach, and would I need to cook the spinach separately first, or will it cook/wilt when adding it to the cooked turkey and spices along with the tomatoes? TIA!
Kathryn Doherty
Hi! I'd use fresh spinach and just wilt it in during the last few minutes of cooking. Hope that helps and hope you enjoy it!