Greek Ground Turkey pairs perfectly seasoned turkey, lemon-parsley rice, and sun-dried tomatoes alongside fresh veggies and a drizzle of tzatziki.

The best meal prep: Greek Ground Turkey bowls.

Greek Ground Turkey

I’ll admit it—ground turkey wasn’t always my favorite. But that all changed when I swapped the beef for turkey in my Egg Roll in a Bowl recipe, turning it into my Ground Turkey Stir Fry. I was instantly hooked!

Seasoned just right, ground turkey is a total flavor powerhouse. My family can’t get enough of this White Turkey Chili, and these Turkey Tacos are a must every month.

So, inspired by my fave Greek Chicken Bowls, I swapped in ground turkey, and it has quickly become a new go-to meal!

This recipe includes prepped ingredients like rice, veggies, meat, seasonings, olives, tomatoes, oil, broth, water, and lemons for easy assembly.

Lemon-Parsley Rice

The base of these Greek Ground Turkey bowls is lemon rice packed with herbs. It’s almost as easy as regular rice but adds so much flavor.

Start by prepping everything at once: dice onion, mince garlic, zest lemons, and juice lemons.

Shortcuts to Save Time:

  • Use pre-diced onion from the store or frozen diced onion.
  • Try jarred minced garlic or a garlic press.
  • Use a small grater for quick lemon zesting.
  • A juicer makes squeezing lemons super fast.
For this Greek ground turkey recipe, sauté the rice with onions, then add herbs and lemon to cook together.

Greek-Seasoned Ground Turkey

  • Cook the Turkey: While the rice cooks, prepare the turkey and toppings. Turkey cooks quickly, so avoid overcooking to keep it juicy and flavorful.
  • Seasoning: The seasoning may seem like a lot but ensures the turkey is full of flavor—no bland, dry turkey here!
  • Finishing Touches:
    • Add lemon juice, lemon zest, olives, and tomatoes at the end.
    • The turkey has a bold lemon flavor (which I love), but you can use less lemon if you prefer.
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Use julienne-cut, herb and oil-packed tomatoes for extra flavor. They’re pre-sliced, so no extra chopping is needed.
Add the meat to the skillet with onions and garlic, brown everything together, then mix in the seasonings, olives, and additional lemon.

The Sauce

  • Make Ahead: The flavor gets better as it sits in the fridge and makes dinner faster later.
  • Use Full-Fat Yogurt: Full-fat Greek yogurt makes the sauce creamy and tasty.
  • Prep Cucumber:
    • Pick English or Persian cucumbers—they’re less watery.
    • Squeeze out extra water with paper towels or cheesecloth.
  • Fresh Lemon:
    • Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the best flavor.
    • Avoid the bitter white part (just zest the yellow part).
  • Season: Don’t forget plenty of salt and pepper to bring out the flavors.

Greek Ground Turkey Toppings

  • Pita Bread or Chips: Serve with charred pita bread or store-bought pita chips for crunch. To char pita: spray both sides with olive oil, grill over medium-low flame for 10-15 seconds per side, or warm in the microwave under a damp paper towel.
  • Veggies: A quick mix of cherry tomatoes and cucumbers is so tasty! Raw or pickled red onion is another great addition.
  • Fresh Lemon, Herbs, and Feta: Finish with feta for a creamy saltiness, a squeeze of lemon for freshness, and chopped parsley for extra flavor. No feta? Add an extra pinch of salt to the bowls.
Make a simple and delicious tzatziki sauce in a bowl to top this Greek Ground Turkey recipe.

Meal Prepping Greek Ground Turkey

  • Pack the Base: Divide rice into four containers and add Greek ground turkey on top.
  • Pack the Toppings: Put veggies, feta, and a lemon wedge (if using) in another container or small bag, and add sauce to a small container.
  • Reheat and Assemble: Microwave rice and turkey for 45 seconds with a damp paper towel (don’t overheat).
  • Add Toppings: Top with veggies, feta, a squeeze of lemon, and sauce right before eating.

More Ground Turkey Recipes:

5 from 18 votes

Greek Turkey Bowls

Greek Ground Turkey delivers herby turkey, tangy olives, and rich sun-dried tomatoes over fluffy lemon-parsley rice, topped with veggies and a drizzle of tzatziki.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 4 servings

Equipment

  • Small pot with a lid
  • Large non-stick skillet

Ingredients 
 

Ground Turkey

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 cup finely diced yellow onion divided
  • 4 teaspoons minced garlic divided
  • 16 ounces lean ground turkey 93/7
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons beef bouillon powder
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced kalamata olives optional
  • 1/3 cup coarsely chopped sun-dried tomatoes

Lemon Parsley Rice

  • 3/4 cup basmati rice (or long-grain white)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 lemon
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf Italian parsley

Toppings

  • 1 batch tzatziki sauce
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup English cucumber cut into half-moons
  • Toppings as desired see note 1

Instructions 

  • Make the tzatziki sauce using the linked recipe above. Chill in the fridge while preparing the rest of the meal.
  • Rinse rice under cold water and set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small pot over medium heat. Sauté 1/2 cup diced onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the rice and toast for 3 minutes. Add chicken stock, water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes. Let rest, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork, then mix in 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 2-1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, and parsley. Adjust seasoning as needed.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the remaining onion until soft, about 3-5 minutes. Add remaining 2 teaspoons garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add turkey seasoned with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Brown for 1 minute on each side, then break it into crumbles, cooking until mostly cooked through, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in oregano, basil, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and bouillon powder. Cook for 2 more minutes or until no longer pink. Off heat, mix in 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 2-4 tablespoons lemon juice (to taste), olives, and sun-dried tomatoes. Cover and set aside.
  • In a bowl, combine cherry tomatoes and cucumber. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.
  • Divide rice evenly among four bowls. Top with turkey, tomato-cucumber mixture, and tzatziki sauce. Sprinkle feta on top and garnish with parsley and lemon wedges. Squeeze lemon juice over everything before serving.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: I love adding some fresh parsley or dill, a handful of feta cheese, and additional lemon wedges to the bowls. Hummus and pickled red onions are also nice additions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 616kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 682mg | Potassium: 1172mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 996IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 138mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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5 from 18 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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33 Comments

  1. Gina says:

    5 stars
    Delicious!!!

    1. Chelsea says:

      So thrilled to hear this! Thanks!

  2. Jasmine says:

    5 stars
    Turned out amazing! ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Chelsea says:

      So thrilled to hear this!

  3. Sabrina says:

    Have you tried making the rice in a rice cooker? Just put all ingredients into the rice cooker and let it cook?

    Looking forward to trying this tonight!

    1. Chelsea says:

      I haven’t tested that yet! I’m so sorry! If you give it a try, let me know how it goes!

  4. Pat C says:

    5 stars
    Made this Greek Bowl exactly as listedโ€ฆomg just Divine! Definitely a keeper in our rotationโ€ฆ
    Just the right amount of spices!
    TY

    1. Chelsea says:

      I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much Pat! ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Angela says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is a keeper for me it is so healthy and super delicious. So much flavor, love the recipe for the rice will be using this rice recipe for my chicken and salmon.

    1. Chelsea says:

      YAY! So happy you loved this! Thanks so much Angela! ๐Ÿ™‚