Thai Basil Ground Turkey

Next time you want to order Asian takeout, save yourself some money and make this Spicy Thai Basil Ground Turkey bowl instead! This ground turkey recipe will rival your favorite Thai takeout but is made at home with healthier ingredients and ready in less time than it takes to order take-out. Plus, it's low carb, Whole30 friendly, Paleo, and gluten-free!

The other night, we were both really craving take-out after a particularly stressful workday (I know you can all relate) and decided to make the healthier choice by making some kind of takeout food at home. Just our version of it.

I was really craving some Thai food so I was planning on making these Thai Basil Beef Bowls but quickly realized I was all out of ground beef! Luckily, I had some ground turkey in the freezer and whipped up this quick turkey version instead.

And, let me tell you, it turned out amazing!

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The sauce is savory and spicy and, with the addition of the Thai basil, it had just the right amount of freshness to the dish.

Everything is finished with some fresh lime juice and dinner was served. There's nothing better than a simple and flavorful Thai dish that you can make in less than 20 minutes!

Key Ingredients For Thai Basil Ground Turkey

Besides lean ground turkey, these are the other key ingredients you need to make this Thai recipe at home:

• Fresh garlic and ginger: Mixing together minced garlic and ginger is very common in many Asian-inspired dishes. These two ingredients are essential to getting the right flavor profile.
• Low sodium soy sauce: Soy sauce is very important in this dish as it gives it the salty, umami element it needs to trick your tastebuds into thinking you are eating take out.
• Asian garlic chili paste: This ingredient helps give this Thai basil ground turkey that kick of spiciness it is known to have. you can always add less or completely omit it if you are not a fan of spicy food or want to make it a bit more kid-friendly.
• Thai basil: This type of basil is known to have a spicier, more licorice type of flavor than a piece of regular sweet basil.

Note: For a full list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make this Thai basil ground turkey bowl, take a look at the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

What To Serve With This Asian Inspired Ground Turkey Bowl

When I make this Thai turkey dish, I normally serve it over some of this cauliflower coconut rice, which is absolutely delicious. If cauliflower rice isn't your or your family's favorite thing to eat, try serving this ground turkey bowl with some plain brown rice or quinoa.

If you are looking for more of an appetizer-sized meal, you could also reach for some lettuce cups and make yourself some quick and easy lettuce wraps.

Recipe Tips And Ideas For Thai Ground Turkey

Follow these tips to make sure that this stew comes out perfect every single time.

• If you are trying to make this ground turkey dish gluten-free, swap out the low sodium soy sauce for tamari sauce or coconut aminos.
• Use powdered garlic and/or ginger if you are unable to use fresh ingredients. Just know you might not get the same intense flavors you would if you were using fresh ginger and garlic cloves.
• To make this dish a bit sweeter, add 1-3 tsp. sugar along with the garlic chili paste. It helps balance the dish out!
• If you still need a bit more spice, add a drizzle of sriracha over the top of your Thai basil turkey bowl.
• Add a squeeze of fresh lime juice over the top of the bowl before serving to give them a citrusy pop of flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions About This Thai Ground Turkey Recipe

Here are some questions I frequently get asked about by some readers…

What if I don't have ground turkey?

If you don't have ground turkey on hand or prefer to use another type of meat, you can easily swap it out for some ground pork or ground beef instead.

I've personally made this exact same recipe using ground beef before and it turned out wonderful.

Is Thai basil the same as regular sweet basil?

Not exactly. While they are both types of basil leaves, they have a different flavor profile.

Thai basil is grown in southeast Asia and has a stronger flavor than sweet basil down. It's spicier with more of an anise or licorice flavor. Sweet basil is on the softer side and works better in sauces like a homemade marinara sauce.

More Takeout Dishes

• Lightened Up Cashew Chicken
• Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein
• Spinach and Mushroom Lo Mein
• Healthy Kung Pao Chicken
• Sesame Beef