Ground turkey can be a welcome alternative to red meat. Lean ground turkey is often used in healthy meals, and any selection of this protein can provide a great base for strong flavors in a dish. Try using ground turkey in a traditionally beef-centric dish like shepherd’s pie, or make turkey the star in a stir-fry or wrap. For more recipe inspiration, read on to discover our favorite ground turkey dishes.

Make-Your-Own-Tacos Bar (pictured above)

Preparing all the fixings for an awesome taco and letting guests pick and choose their favorites is a great way to make sure everyone’s satisfied. Rachael Ray’s version features two quick fillings, including one made with ground turkey and smoky chipotles in adobo.

Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Melissa d’Arabian knows that being healthy doesn’t have to mean sacrificing taste. These light lettuce wraps are filled with bold flavors like soy sauce and rice wine vinegar, and they’re topped with honey-mustard-Sriracha sauce. Don’t forget to serve them with fresh veggies like carrots and bean sprouts for added crunch.

Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

Try this alternative to a British classic. These single-serving shepherd’s pies are a quick way to make a complete meal; they’re filled with meat, carrots, peas and cheesy scallion mashed potatoes.

Turkey Burger

“Poultry is a perfect canvas for many big flavors,” says Bobby Flay of his healthy turkey burger recipe. “And this combination of tart goat cheese, sweet Meyer lemon-honey and peppery arugula makes for one outstanding burger.”

Turkey-and-Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers

Guy Fieri packs these peppers with ingredients like kale, quinoa and lean ground turkey, so you get your greens, protein and grains all in one easy dish. He adds a crispy Parmesan topping and serves the peppers with a homemade Roasted Tomatillo Avocado Sauce for even more depth of flavor.

Slow-Cooker Swedish Meatballs

These turkey-and-pork meatballs are made in a slow cooker so they have ample time to soak in all the savory flavors of the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Bonus: The leftover cooking liquid is mixed with sour cream and jelly to make a tasty sauce.

Italian Turkey Meatballs

These meatballs made by Giada De Laurentiis feature ground turkey combined with spicy Italian turkey sausage for added heat and taste.

Spicy Turkey and Green Bean Stir-Fry

Food Network Kitchen’s easy stir-fry recipe is perfect for nights when you’re in a time crunch but want a healthy, home-cooked meal. The lean ground turkey, green beans and basmati rice make this a balanced dish, and it will be ready in only 30 minutes.

The Ultimate Sloppy Joes

For his take on this family favorite, Tyler Florence makes his own savory sauce from pantry staples like ketchup, mustard and red wine vinegar, and he tops the sloppy joes with homemade pickles for a cooling bite.