Asian Quinoa and Turkey Stir Fry

This tasty Asian Quinoa and Turkey Stir Fry is one of those delicious meals that cooks up in less than 30 minutes and can be made with any combination of veggies, lean ground turkey, and quinoa! It's versatile, packed with protein and nutrients, and doubles for meal prep.

Lately, I have been all about the stir-fry. It's fast, easy, and healthy.  At least once a week, I am loading up a wok or skillet with protein, tons of veggies, and a quick sauce like this homemade stir fry sauce or teriyaki sauce.

Normally my stir-fries lean in an Asian direction like this Spicy Ground Turkey and Green Bean Stir Fry,  Salmon Stir Fry, and Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry. I just love a good, savory, slightly spicy stir fry. 

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Recently, I discovered a new way to elevate my stir-fries - Chinese 5 spice. It’s a combination of anise, Szechuan peppercorns, cloves, fennel, and cinnamon and it’s delicious. It's warm, slightly spicy, and so good. Add it to any stir-fry or sauce to make it something really special. 

Why You'll Love this Asian Quinoa and Turkey Stir Fry

• Quick and easy: Make this easy quinoa stir fry with precooked quinoa (either homemade or store-bought) and a bag of Asian veggies and this meal is ready in just about 20 minutes. 
• Healthy: This meal has it all - lean protein, tons of veggies, and whole grains.  The sauce is sugar-free, unlike many stir-fry sauces and if you swap in coconut aminos, it is also gluten-free.
• Versatile: This meal can be made with any lean protein - chicken, turkey, pork, shrimp, or tofu. Use any combination of veggies you like.  Change up the sauce making it spicy, sweet, or more savory.  This recipe is a blueprint to make a protein-packed quinoa stir-fry. 

Love cooking with quinoa? Don't miss this Quinoa Fried Rice, Chicken Quinoa Bowls, and Quinoa Lettuce Wraps.

Key Ingredients For Ground Turkey Stir Fry

Besides the ground turkey and quinoa, these are the ingredients you’ll need to make the stir fry:

• Ground turkey: To keep this recipe lean, I used 99% lean ground turkey, but any ground turkey works. Or swap in ground chicken, pork, or beef.
• Quinoa: This recipe uses precooked quinoa, usually I plan to have leftover quinoa when this is on the menu. If you don't have any cooked quinoa, grab some precooked quinoa in the store. If it's frozen, just defrost it first.
• Spices: For some heat, I added some red pepper flakes. Add as much or as little as you want. I also used fresh ginger! You can substitute this with ground ginger, but it won't have as bold of a flavor. I also used one teaspoon of Chinese five-spice powder. Since it can be strong, I recommend starting with one teaspoon.
• Sauce: I fried everything in a combination of coconut oil and sesame oil to give it a nuttier undertone. Then, I added low-sodium soy sauce for the salty umami flavor. You can use coconut aminos if you need a gluten-free option.
• Vegetables: I recommend looking for a cabbage-based Asian vegetable mix. Mine had a few types of cabbage, carrots, kale, Brussels sprouts, pea pods, and broccoli slaw. Whatever you choose, just make sure it is quick cooking. I also added a thinly sliced red pepper and some chopped scallions.
• Garnish: Top with fresh cilantro for a yummy bite! This is optional, so if you don't like cilantro, just leave it out.

What To Serve With This Quinoa Turkey Stir Fry

Whenever I whip up a batch of this simple stir fry, I love to just put it in a bowl and eat it for lunch! It's perfect for meal prep because it reheats easily and tastes even better the next day. If you feel like it needs a bit more flavor, just add a bit more soy sauce and it will taste new again.

Don't forget to add a few more fresh scallions on top! Not only does it add a bright green color to the dish but it also adds a nice crunchy freshness to it.

To make this a complete meal, you can serve some baked veggie egg rolls on the side. Even though this stir fry is packed with veggies, I like to eat roasted green beans with it for a little more fiber and nutrition.

Recipe Tips And Ideas

Follow these tips to make sure that this stir fry turns out perfect every single time!

• Pre-cook the quinoa and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Keep it up to 3 days. 
• Cook the seasoned turkey beforehand. To save time, pre-cook the ground turkey with the Chinese five-spice powder and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
• Use Chinese five-spice powder moderately. This Chinese spice seasoning is very strong. I suggest starting with just one teaspoon and then adding more if you want it to be bolder or spicier.
• Add a bit of cilantro. I mixed the cilantro into the stir fry to cook out some of the flavors in the quinoa, but you can also use it as a garnish at the end or leave it out entirely.
• Want to add more protein? Add some chopped cashews for peanuts or more protein and a delightful crunch! Or top everything with a fried egg. 
• Make it vegetarian. Replace the turkey with tofu to make a vegetarian tofu stir fry. Vegetarian crumbles will also work.

Storage, Leftovers, and Meal Prep

To make sure the meat stays fresh, store this meal in an airtight container for up to 4 days. It tastes great when reheated for meal prep. 

This dish can also be frozen, just make sure to let it cool fully before freezing. Defrost overnight in the fridge and then reheat in a hot skillet.

Can I use rice instead of quinoa in this stir fry?

Yes, you can certainly use any type of rice or starch as the base of this stir fry. Quinoa is perfect for vegetarians because it has so much protein in it.

If you choose to use rice, make it ahead of time and store the cooked rice in the refrigerator overnight. It is more difficult to make stir fry with fresh rice.