One pan Ground Turkey and Zucchini Skillet with tomatoes and pesto is a delicious 30 minute, low carb recipe that will quickly become a family favorite! Minimal ingredients, minimal effort, and maximum flavor.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This ground turkey and zucchini skillet is a summer must-do! On those sweltering days when you can’t bear standing over a hot stove for more than 15 minutes, this easy turkey zucchini skillet saves the day. It’s loaded with lean protein, juicy tomatoes, and fresh pesto flavor.
Here are some other highlights:
- Low carb: With 41g of protein and only 13g of carbs, it’s a filling high-protein meal that won’t leave you hungry.
- Flavorful: The combination of fresh pesto and Parmesan cheese creates a rich, gourmet taste with very few ingredients.
- One pan and 30 minutes: Skillet meals like this one are perfect for busy weeknights! Just like with my healthy zucchini pizza skillet, you only have one skillet to wash.
- Lean and healthy: Using lean ground turkey makes this a healthy meal that’s lower in fat, naturally gluten-free and grain-free.
- Meal-prep friendly: The flavors actually deepen overnight! It stays fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days, making it the perfect healthy lunch.
Reader’s Review
This was so delicious! Made recipe as written and it was fast and felt healthy! Even the picky hubs thought it was delicious! It will be a great way to use up zucchini from my garden!
Tric
Ingredients for Ground Turkey Skillet
- Ground turkey: Use 2 pounds of lean or extra-lean ground turkey. You can also use ground chicken for a similar flavor – in fact, I have a dedicated chicken and zucchini skillet if you prefer that protein! For a lighter version, you can reduce this to 1 pound and the recipe still holds up beautifully.
- Zucchini: You’ll need about 2.5 to 3 pounds of zucchini (roughly 3-4 medium). Both dark and light green zucchini work, or you can use yellow summer squash for a pop of color.
- Tomatoes: I like to use 1 pint of sliced in half grape or cherry tomatoes. Regular tomatoes will work too, they just break down more and form fresh tomato sauce.
- Pesto: 3/4 cup of your favorite store-bought brand or my homemade pesto. This is the main flavor driver, so pick one you love!
- Parmesan cheese: For the best results, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese. It melts better and has a sharper flavor than the shelf-stable shaker kind.
- Onion: One medium yellow or white onion, finely chopped. If you’re in a pinch, you can substitute with 1 tablespoon of onion powder or flakes.
- Oil: Just a teaspoon of high-heat oil, like avocado or olive oil, for sautéing.
- Spices: A pinch of salt to bring out the natural flavors. Can always add red pepper flakes for some heat, and dried oregano or Italian seasoning for more flavor.
Substitutions
- Cheese: Instead of Parmesan cheese you can add slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and let it melt under the lid like I do with my Caprese chicken zucchini skillet. Or even crumbled feta cheese or regular shredded Mozzarella cheese.
- Dairy-free: Use nutritional yeast or a dairy-free Parmesan alternative.
- Veggies: You can swap zucchini for bell pepper or greens. For a version that specifically uses peppers and black beans, check out my turkey taco skillet.
- Tomatoes: Not a tomato fan, no problem! Use bell peppers or top with avocado at the end.
- Other meat: Ground chicken, ground beef, venison or lamb will work as well. Depending on how lean it is, you may need to drain excess fat.
- Vegetarian swap: Use plant-based “meat” crumbles or extra-firm tofu cubes.
How to Make Ground Turkey and Zucchini Skillet
I am using a very large skillet about 14-inch wide to hold all ingredients. You can cut back on zucchini or turkey a bit if your skillet is 12-inch, smaller or not deep enough.
- Cook onion: Preheat large ceramic non-stick skillet on medium heat and swirl oil to coat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cook meat: Add ground turkey and cook for 5-7 minutes, constantly breaking into pieces and stirring with a wooden spoon.
- Cook zucchini but don’t overcook: Add zucchini, stir and cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not overcook and stop cooking before you think zucchini is done. It helps to avoid mushy squash.
- Add pesto and cheese: Turn off heat, add tomatoes and pesto, then stir. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and sprinkle with fresh basil, if you wish.
Tips for Best Results
- Don’t overcook the zucchini: This is the most important rule! Zucchini is 95% water. Stop cooking when the squash still looks slightly firm and crisp; the residual heat will finish it off without turning it into mush.
- Use a large enough skillet: To get a good sear on the turkey and keep the zucchini from steaming, use a 12-inch or 14-inch skillet. If your pan is too small, the ingredients will crowd and release too much moisture.
- Freshly grated cheese is key: Pre-shredded cheese is coated in potato starch to prevent clumping, which stops it from melting smoothly into the pesto sauce. Grate your Parmesan fresh for that perfect “gourmet” finish.
- Prep before you light the stove: This recipe moves fast once the turkey is in the pan. Have your zucchini sliced and your tomatoes halved before you start sautéing the onion.
- Scaling the recipe: This dish makes a generous amount. Because zucchini doesn’t freeze well, I recommend cutting the ingredients in half if you aren’t cooking for a crowd or planning for 3 days of meal prep.
Serving Ideas
Serve this ground turkey and veggies on its own or over a bed of spring mix, shredded lettuce or kale. The warm pesto and turkey act almost like a dressing for the greens.
In the fall, I have served it over spaghetti squash noodles and cauliflower rice for a cozy, vegetable-forward dinner.
For all my boys, I cooked young potatoes with dill as low carb isn’t for them. Instant Pot brown rice or Instant Pot quinoa would be great to soak up the juices from the tomatoes and pesto.
How to Store and Reheat
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
I do not recommend to freeze this dish as zucchini do not freeze well. If this recipe is too much, cut it in half.
Reheat: Reheat on a skillet with a splash of water while covered. Simmer on low, check and stir every 3 minutes until warmed through.
More Ground Turkey Recipes to Try
- Healthy turkey burgers
- Healthy turkey meatballs
- Ground turkey zucchini boats
- Ground turkey and potato skillet
- Ground turkey pasta bake
- Ground turkey quinoa casserole
Alternately, browse 45 delicious healthy zucchini recipes!
Ground Turkey Zucchini Skillet Recipe
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground turkey, lean or extra lean
- 2.5-3 pounds zucchini, cut into thin slices
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, cut in halves
- 3/4 cup pesto
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon oil
Instructions
- Preheat large ceramic non-stick skillet on medium heat and swirl oil to coat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add ground turkey and cook for 5-7 minutes, constantly breaking into pieces and stirring.
- Add zucchini, stir and cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off heat, add tomatoes and pesto, then stir.
- Garnish with Parmesan cheese and serve on its own or over greens for a low carb meal, or with Instant Pot brown rice or Instant Pot quinoa for complete with complex carbs meal.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Do not freeze as zucchini do not freeze well. If this recipe is too much, cut it in half.
- Reheat: Reheat in a skillet with a splash of water while covered. Simmer on low, check and stir every 3 minutes until warmed through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Wow! Just wow.
I’m so happy to read this! Thanks for your positive feedback!
I made this for dinner tonight. HOMERUN! My family looked up at me after their first bites and said “What is in this?” It was easy and everyone is happy! ❤️
The best part was that my husband can’t eat tomatoes due to tummy issues. I scooped some out for him and then added them in for the rest of us. I love tomatoes so this was the cherry on top for me!!!
I’m so happy to read this! Thanks for your positive feedback!
I made this for dinner last night and my husband and I truly enjoyed it! Definitely going to make this again!
Yay! So happy to hear!
I like being creative and I actually make this all the time and found the exact recipe lol. I use for tacos with yellow corn tortillas yum!
Thanks for sharing Marcus 🙂
I just made this for our dinner tonight because I had some leftover ground turkey. It was absolutely delicious.I did make some adjustments because when I went shopping I only bought two large zucchini for 1 1/2 pounds of ground turkey and I needed three. So I added in 1 cup of chopped mushrooms and 1/2 half of a green pepper chopped which I added to the onions prior to adding the meat. I also had some leeks so I did half and a sweet yellow onion and a half leeks. It easily made five servings. And it was juicy and especially flavorful with the burst of cherry tomatoes.
That’s great! Thank you for sharing what you added and how great it turned out 🙂
So good. My whole family loved it. Made it twice so far!
Very easy to make and tastes delicious!
Just what I love to hear Sarah!
So delicious and super easy to make! And bonus healthy…..win win win!
Woot woot!
Made this several times! Very good & healthy!
Awesome Carol!
This recipe is incredibly simple and has the the benefits of being both fast and healthy. I served it with Jasmine rice and my two year old and four year old loved it! Who doesnt love pesto. Thank you so much for this yummy recipe. Perfect for weeknight dinners.
I agree about pesto…it’s amazing. But what’s even more amazing is that this recipe is kid approved at your house! WIN!
I have made this twice. It is a keeper!
Yay! So happy to hear!
Oh my goodness! This was absolutely delicious. Definitely one of those recipes I’ll make over and over again.
I am so glad!
I want to try this recipe tonight, not a big fan of pesto . What can I replace pesto with?
Hi Mara!
If you don’t like pesto, you can omit it. The dish won’t be quite as flavorful. Or why don’t you try this chicken and zucchini recipe? https://ifoodreal.com/chicken-and-zucchini/
You can substitute ground turkey in it if you like!
I have been meaning to leave a review for this. I have cooked it several times now.
It has become our go-to quick, easy and healthy meal. We LOVE it! Thank you so much.
You are very welcome Martha. I so appreciate you taking the time to write this wonderful review!