• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Family Food on the Table
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Dishes
  • Baby Food
  • Subscribe
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Dishes
  • Baby Food
  • Subscribe
  • About
×
Home » Recipes » Turkey

Italian Ground Turkey Skillet

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: Mar 11, 2025 | Published: Jun 20, 2022
This post may contain affiliate links. See my 
disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe
Pin

Italian ground turkey skillet with white beans, diced tomatoes and spinach is an easy, flavorful all-in-one-pan dinner that’s ready in just 25 minutes!

Close up of a large skillet with ground turkey white beans, spinach, tomatoes and Parmesan cheese on top.


 

I spent most of last week at the beach, working and taking super long walks on the beach. My kiddos are both at sleep-away camp and the house seemed just a little *too* quiet. 

But I'm back now and have a week before they come home. My puppy Sadie, our 9-month-old chocolate lab, is just home from training camp, so she and the older dog will keep me company.

And I plan to work through TONS of recipes and get ahead a little bit so I can just spoil my kids with love and attention when they get back.

OK, let's move along to the food.

A wooden spoon resting in a large skillet with a ground turkey and white bean mixture with spinach and tomatoes.

Ground turkey is something I almost always have in the fridge. It’s so versatile and it’s a great, healthy protein.

And so of course, I’m always cooking with it! And therefore bringing more and more recipes to you!

Previously, I’ve shared this curry ground turkey with rice and peas that has SO much flavor. We also love this ground turkey, rice and veggie skillet that’s endlessly adaptable to what you have on hand. It’s in my regular rotation.

I’ve also shared this collection of 12 easy ground turkey recipes because ground turkey is one of my go-to proteins for meals, and I love finding new ways to use it.

Today, I’m sharing another favorite with this Italian ground turkey skillet.

An Italian ground turkey skillet with white beans, spinach, tomatoes and Parmesan cheese on top.

This one-pot meal is loaded with ground turkey, onions and peppers, white beans, diced tomatoes and wilted spinach.

It’s perfectly seasoned and then finished off with Parmesan cheese to bring everything together.

All of those ingredients work so well together, and they’re all pretty basic staples that I’m likely to have on hand in my fridge and pantry. Which means I can make this any time!

And the fact that it’s ready in just 25 minutes and is all made in one pan, well, that’s a dinner winner in my book! 

A large dark skillet with cooked ground turkey mixed with white beans, tomatoes, spinach, and onions and peppers.

(This Italian chicken skillet with pesto is also a one pan dinner ready in 25 minutes, with some of these same great flavors. Or try this cheesy ground chicken skillet with cannellini beans.)

It’s also a really family-friendly recipe. Just familiar flavors and ones that my kids will happily tuck into. 

OK, let’s get cooking so you can enjoy this too.

You can also check out my Google web story for this Italian ground turkey skillet recipe.

Sautéed onions and peppers with garlic in a large dark skillet.
Cooked ground turkey with onions and green bell pepper in a large dark skillet.
Ground turkey with white beans, tomatoes, spinach and onions in a large dark skillet.

Now, I’ve got some notes and tips coming up below on how to make Italian ground turkey skillet. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Ingredient Notes:

  • Bell pepper: The recipe calls for a regular green bell pepper, but you could substitute any color.
  • Ground turkey: I use a 93% lean ground turkey. I find the ones that are 99% lean don’t have as much flavor. Also, sometimes the kind I buy is 1 pound and sometimes the brand I get is 1.3 pounds; both work fine for this recipe.
  • Beans: I love the creaminess from the cannellini beans, but I think a can of Great Northern beans would work fine here, too. Chickpeas could also work well.
  • Tomatoes: The fire-roasted diced tomatoes add a little oomph to this recipe, but you could use regular diced tomatoes or even swap in some petite diced tomatoes or a flavored diced tomato.
  • Spinach: I like the extra greens and veggies from the spinach, but you could skip this if you’re not a fan.
  • Spicy: If you want to add a little kick, feel free to use some crushed red pepper flakes along with the other seasonings. You can also add some hot sauce when serving.
A side half of a large skillet with ground turkey with beans, spinach and tomatoes.

And lastly, I do think the Parmesan cheese is a must. It just brings everything together and gives the dish a ton of extra flavor.

If you need this to be dairy free, you could use nutritional yeast as a topping instead.

Otherwise, this is a really easy recipe to put together. You basically just layer everything into your pan.

You start with sautéing the onion and pepper, then add the garlic. Next add the turkey and cook it through. Then comes the seasonings, followed by the beans and tomatoes. And lastly, the spinach gets mixed in to wilt down before adding the cheese and serving it up.

One pan. Easy to make. Easy to clean-up, too!

A ground turkey mixture with white beans, spinach and tomatoes served on a white plate.

And of course, this is an all-in-one kind of meal so it really doesn’t need any sides for serving.

You could, however, pair it with some steamed rice or a grain like barley or farro, or even some orzo, if you wanted to bulk up the meal a bit more.

Last thing, let’s talk about the leftovers. Because they keep great!

Close up of a ground turkey mixture with white beans, spinach and tomatoes served on a white plate.

Leftovers of this ground turkey skillet, once cooled, can be kept in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in a skillet on the stove or in a bowl in the microwave. 

Lunchtime leftovers for the win!

I hope you give this a try for an easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love. I think it’ll become a new go-to in your house.

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

Close up of a ground turkey skillet with white beans, spinach, tomatoes and Parmesan cheese on top.
PRINT PIN SaveSaved!
4.56 from 27 votes

Italian Ground Turkey Skillet

Italian ground turkey skillet with white beans, diced tomatoes and spinach is an easy, flavorful all-in-one pan dinner that’s ready in just 25 minutes!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time25 minutes mins
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lb. lean ground turkey
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (14.5 oz.) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (14.5 oz.) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 2 big handfuls fresh baby spinach
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and sauté for about 5 minutes, until tender. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  • Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until cooked through, about 7-8 minutes.
  • Add the Italian seasoning, kosher salt and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
  • Add the beans and tomatoes and stir well to mix. Add the spinach and stir into the turkey mixture until slightly wilted, about 2 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Notes

Bell pepper: The recipe calls for a regular green bell pepper, but you could substitute any color.
Ground turkey: I use a 93% lean ground turkey. I find the ones that are 99% lean don’t have as much flavor. Also, sometimes the kind I buy is 1 pound and sometimes the brand I get is 1.3 pounds; both work fine for this recipe.
Beans: I love the creaminess from the cannellini beans, but I think a can of Great Northern beans would work fine here, too. Chickpeas could also work well.
Tomatoes: The fire-roasted diced tomatoes add a little oomph to this recipe, but you could use regular diced tomatoes or even swap in some petite diced tomatoes or a flavored diced tomato.
Spinach: I like the extra greens and veggies from the spinach, but you could skip this if you’re not a fan.
Spicy: If you want to add a little kick, feel free to use some crushed red pepper flakes along with the other seasonings. You can also add some hot sauce when serving.
Leftovers: Leftovers, once cooled, can be kept in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in a skillet on the stove or in a bowl in the microwave. 

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 422kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 645mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!
Pin

More Turkey

  • Close up of a meatball with a bite taken out on a fork that's resting in a platter of meatballs.
    Air Fryer Meatballs
  • Close up of a sliced mini turkey meatloaf on a small wooden cutting board with sprigs of thyme nearby.
    Mini Turkey Meatloaves
  • Close up of a bowl full of taco soup with cheese and cilantro on top and additional toppings in bowls to the side.
    Crock Pot Taco Soup
  • Close up of a large serving bowl of cheesy taco pasta with avocado, sour cream, jalapenos and lime wedges on top and a wooden spoon resting in the side for serving.
    Taco Pasta

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Randi

    December 11, 2022 at 11:59 am

    It was fantastic and easy. Thank you!
    Used kale in place of spinach - but shouldn't make a difference either way.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      December 12, 2022 at 11:39 am

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it Randi! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
  2. Chris

    January 10, 2023 at 8:10 pm

    This was easy and delicious. I had all the ingredients except for spinach on hand - we had some leftover cooked mustard greens so I used those instead. Both my husband and I liked it. It’s like Turkey & veggie pasta but with white beans instead of pasta. Yummy.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      January 11, 2023 at 7:46 am

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it Chris! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊

      Reply
  3. Marcie

    September 27, 2023 at 7:47 pm

    This was lovely! We used chickpeas since we didn't have cannellini and it turned out fabulous. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      September 29, 2023 at 7:25 am

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it Marcie! And that it was just as delicious with the chickpeas! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
    • Pam

      February 25, 2024 at 7:31 pm

      Made for the first time tonight as meal prep for lunches this week. Absolutely delicious followed recipe. How many ounces is considered a serving size?

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty

        February 26, 2024 at 10:57 am

        I'm so happy to hear you loved it, thank you for sharing! The serving size for the recipe is for 4 people so one serving is 1/4 of the total prepared recipe. I'm not sure what that is in ounces, but I hope that helps you!

        Reply
  4. Valerie Huls

    March 19, 2024 at 10:18 pm

    I love your simple wholesome recipes! Thanks for helping this busy working mom get dinner on the table!!!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      March 20, 2024 at 10:01 am

      Well wow, thank you. That's why I do this. 🥰 I'm so happy these recipes are helpful to another mom!

      Reply
      • Jim

        February 16, 2025 at 8:18 pm

        Just made this. Easy and delicious! I used JennieO Italian Turkey.

        Reply
  5. Virginia

    May 24, 2024 at 9:33 pm

    Well, I have to say thank you very much! As soon as I got home from work today, I started on making this. I didn't have the white beans, so I ended up using Garbanzo beans. Which is all I had, and I was very surprised! Very delicious! Nice, quick, and healthy! 😉

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      May 28, 2024 at 8:52 am

      Oh I'm so glad you loved it! It's one of my regular go-to dinners! Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Dean

    September 05, 2024 at 5:57 pm

    Do you drain the diced tomatoes and bean cans? Don’t want it to end up dry or soupy …

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      September 06, 2024 at 8:14 am

      The beans should be rinsed and drained, yes. The tomatoes don't need to be drained - you can add the whole can to the skillet. It adds some moisture to the skillet but doesn't make it soupy. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  7. Stephanie S

    November 21, 2024 at 5:13 pm

    Quick, easy and delicious! Next time I'll add some toasted pine nuts for a little crunch.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      November 26, 2024 at 8:57 am

      I'm so happy to hear you loved it Stephanie! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  8. Zephaniah

    April 25, 2025 at 1:27 am

    5 stars
    I've made this recipe multiple times and it's delicious each time. I'm surprised I've never rated it. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      April 25, 2025 at 8:37 am

      I so appreciate you taking the time! And I'm so happy to hear you love this recipe!

      Reply
  9. Debbie R

    May 18, 2025 at 7:42 pm

    5 stars
    This was delicious and oh so good. Thank you for sharing this and hubby rated it a 10+.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      May 20, 2025 at 4:49 pm

      Oh that's great, I'm so happy to hear you all loved it! Thank YOU for sharing! : )

      Reply
4.56 from 27 votes (25 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Meet Kathryn

Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes to help you get delicious food on the table for your family!

More about me →

Popular Recipes

  • A cream cheese chicken and mushroom mixture in a large pan with a wooden spoon resting in it.
    Easy Cream Cheese Chicken
  • Close up of honey garlic chicken served in a blue and white bowl with sliced green onions on top.
    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
  • Close up of a whole roasted chicken on a large white serving platter with veggies and fresh parsley to the side.
    Easy Whole Roasted Chicken
  • Close up of a fork resting in a bowl of rice and curried ground turkey with peas.
    Curry Ground Turkey with Rice and Peas
  • Close up of a wooden spoon drizzling pan gravy over seared pork chops.
    Easy Skillet Pork Chops with Gravy
  • Close up of cooked cubes of chicken breasts in a honey garlic sauce with red pepper flakes.
    15-Minute Honey Garlic Chicken

Footer

↑back to top

About

  • Contact
  • Work With Me

Newsletter

  • Sign up for emails!

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Family Food on the Table

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.