This ground turkey and butternut squash skillet is a flavorful, comforting, and wholesome meal that’s light and fresh. In just 30 minutes, you can create this one-pan dish, making it the perfect choice for a busy weeknight. Comfort food doesn’t always have to be carb-heavy, and this recipe proves it!
INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground turkey
1 butternut squash (about 3 cups cubed)
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small white onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 red bell pepper, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tsp smoked paprika
3/4 cup Gruyère cheese
Fresh cilantro and parsley (for garnish)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet. Add ground turkey, diced onion, garlic, and bell peppers. Sauté until the meat is no longer pink. Season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Add cubed butternut squash and vegetable broth to the skillet. Stir so that most of the squash is submerged in the broth. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for about 12 minutes, or until the squash softens.
- Remove from heat and top with Gruyère cheese. Transfer to a preheated 400°F oven and bake for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley, and serve.
NOTES
- Use a cast iron skillet for even heat distribution, which ensures the food cooks uniformly and prevents burning or drying out the meat.
- Whenever possible, opt for healthier, sustainably-sourced meats, such as grass-fed, organic, and humanely-raised options.
- Ground turkey can be substituted with ground beef, chicken, pork, or a combination of these. For a vegan or vegetarian option, replace with tofu or omit the meat entirely.
- You can swap butternut squash for other root vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, regular potatoes, or yuca.
- Gruyère cheese can be replaced with another type of cheese you prefer or omitted for a dairy-free or Whole30 diet. Vegan cheese is also an option.
- Fresh herbs, like parsley and cilantro, add a bright finish to this dish. Sage also works well as a garnish.
NUTRITION (PER SERVING)
Calories: 353 kcal | Carbs: 26g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 314mg | Potassium: 1100mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 21,317 IU | Vitamin C: 79mg | Calcium: 330mg | Iron: 3mg
