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Ground Turkey Teriyaki Stir Fry: A Weeknight Winner for Beginner Cooks

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Busy weeknights call for quick and healthy meals, and this Ground Turkey Teriyaki Stir Fry is the perfect solution. Packed with flavor and loaded with vegetables, it’s a simple yet satisfying dinner that’s ready in under 30 minutes! Imagine a sizzling skillet filled with tender ground turkey, vibrant broccoli, crisp carrots, and sweet onions, all coated in a luscious homemade teriyaki sauce with a hint of orange zest. It’s a feast for the senses, perfect for any weeknight. This easy recipe is ideal for beginner cooks, requiring minimal ingredients and delivering maximum flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Teriyaki Sauce:

  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 cup water, divided
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated or minced
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest

For the Stir Fry:

  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 3 cups broccoli florets, fresh or frozen
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For the Teriyaki Sauce:

  1. Combine Ingredients: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine ¾ cup of water, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, honey, and brown sugar. Stir to combine. This is the base of your flavorful teriyaki sauce.
  2. Bring to a Boil: Bring the mixture to a low boil. A low boil is sufficient to dissolve the sugar and blend the flavors.
  3. Make the Slurry: In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup water and cornstarch until the cornstarch is completely dissolved. This mixture, called a slurry, will thicken the sauce. Ensure the cornstarch is fully dissolved to prevent lumps in the sauce.
  4. Thicken the Sauce: Slowly stir the cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce. Allow the sauce to thicken, which will only take a minute or two. Stir constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
  5. Add Orange Zest: Remove the sauce from the heat immediately and stir in the orange zest. Adding the zest off heat preserves its fresh flavor.
  6. Set Aside: Set the teriyaki sauce aside until ready to add to the stir-fry.

For the Stir Fry:

  1. Heat the Oil: Add the sesame oil to a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. A wok is ideal for stir-fries, but a large skillet will also work. Ensure the oil is hot before adding the vegetables.
  2. Sauté the Onion: Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for several minutes, until softened. Softened onions add sweetness and depth of flavor to the stir-fry.
  3. Cook the Turkey: Add the ground turkey to the skillet and cook until fully cooked through (an internal temperature of 165°F should be reached). Break up the turkey with a spoon as it cooks. Cooked turkey should be no longer pink and the juices should run clear.
  4. Add Vegetables: Add the broccoli florets and shredded carrots to the skillet and cook until heated through and tender-crisp. You can adjust the cooking time depending on your preference for the texture of the vegetables. Frozen vegetables may take a little longer to heat through.
  5. Add the Sauce: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the teriyaki sauce.
  6. Simmer: Simmer the stir-fry for several minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly and all the ingredients are well combined. Simmering allows the flavors to meld together and the sauce to coat the ingredients.  
     
  7. Serve: Serve the Ground Turkey Teriyaki Stir Fry over rice or as desired.

Notes

  • Prep ingredients before starting.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan.
  • Adjust cooking times as needed.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning.

Find it online: https://paularecipes.com/ground-turkey-teriyaki-stir-fry-a-weeknight-winner-for-beginner-cooks/