Looking for a healthy and delicious weeknight dinner? This Healthy Teriyaki Ground Turkey Stir-Fry is quick, packed with flavor, and made with a naturally sweet homemade sauce using honey and brown sugar. Loaded with vegetables and lean protein, it’s a meal your whole family will love and is ready in under 30 minutes!
Big Flavors, Simple Ingredients
What makes this healthy teriyaki ground turkey stir-fry shine is its perfectly balanced flavor profile. The homemade teriyaki sauce hits every note. Sweet from honey and brown sugar, savory from soy sauce, and tangy from rice vinegar, with just the right amount of garlic and ginger to give it depth. As it simmers with the turkey and vegetables, it thickens into a glossy, sticky glaze that coats every bite.
The combination of tender ground turkey with slightly crisp vegetables like carrots and squash makes each mouthful incredibly satisfying. It’s light yet filling, sweet yet savory, and comforting without feeling heavy, exactly the kind of meal you crave after a long day.
Even better, this dish is super customizable. You can swap in whatever veggies you have on hand, and the sauce will still tie everything together beautifully. Serve it over steamed jasmine rice, brown rice, noodles, or even cauliflower rice if you’re going low-carb. No matter how you enjoy it, this stir-fry delivers restaurant-worthy flavor in a fraction of the time!
Why You’ll Love This Under-30-Minute Stir-Fry
- Quick & Easy: From start to finish, this entire meal takes less than 30 minutes—including chopping veggies and cooking everything in one pan.
- Simple Ingredients: You don’t need anything fancy—just pantry staples like soy sauce, garlic, and honey, plus a few fresh veggies.
- Minimal Clean-Up: One pan, one bowl for the sauce, and you’re done. Perfect for a low-effort dinner.
- Balanced & Nourishing: Loaded with protein and veggies, it’s a wholesome dinner you’ll feel good serving.
Skip the store-bought sauce! This one is quick to mix and naturally sweetened with honey and brown sugar. It thickens beautifully with a simple cornstarch slurry, making your stir-fry glossy and flavorful.
Tips & Variations
- Swap veggies: Use broccoli, bell peppers, or snap peas if preferred
- Add heat: Toss in red pepper flakes or sriracha for a spicy kick
- Low-carb version: Serve with cauliflower rice or in lettuce cups
- Meal prep friendly: Stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days
This healthy teriyaki ground turkey stir-fry is everything you want in a weeknight meal: fast, flavorful, and family-friendly. Whether you’re feeding toddlers, cooking for two, or meal prepping for the week, it’s a reliable go-to that doesn’t compromise on taste or nutrition. Plus, it comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy evenings when you need dinner on the table fast.
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how you served it! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @winniekison so I can see your creations.
Craving more quick and nourishing meals like this one? Be sure to check out my Stir-Fried Glazed Shrimp or Cantonese Tomato and Beef Stir Fry for more easy dinner ideas.
Healthy Teriyaki Ground Turkey Stir-Fry
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
- 1/2 yellow onion diced
- 1/2 cup diced carrots
- 1 yellow squash diced
- A handful of baby spinach
- 1 lb ground turkey
- Cooked rice for serving
- Optional toppings: sesame seeds chopped green onions
Sauce:
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar adjust to taste
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons warm water
Instructions
- Make the sauce: Mix soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, brown sugar, honey, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl. In another bowl, stir cornstarch with warm water to create a slurry. Set both aside.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and carrots to sauté until slightly softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add in yellow squash to cook for another 2-3 minutes. Remove veggies from the pan and add more oil. Add in ground turkey and cook until browned and fully cooked.
- Add veggies back into pan with ground turkey.
- Pour the teriyaki sauce and slurry into the skillet. Stir constantly until the sauce thickens and coats the turkey and veggies.
- Plate with rice or noodles and top with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.
